British soldiers are set to be among the first peacekeeping troops to arrive in stricken East Timor, Foreign Secretary Mr Robin Cook said last night.
Up to 270 Gurkhas could be deployed in the region within days, after Indonesia bowed to mounting international pressure and accepted a United Nations force to restore order.
The British contingent of 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles, stationed in Brunei, would be "deployed as soon as possible", Mr Cook said.