Militiamen fire on refugees

Jakarta - Pro-Jakarta militiamen yesterday opened fire on 1,500 refugees sheltering next to the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET…

Jakarta - Pro-Jakarta militiamen yesterday opened fire on 1,500 refugees sheltering next to the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) compound in the territory's capital Dili, a Dutch journalist said.

"There was heavy gunfire from automatic rifles into 1,500 refugees who were sheltering next to the UNAMET compound," Tjitske Lingsma told CNN from Dili. "They were actually firing into the crowd. People screamed and desperately went to UNAMET, (they) were desperate, crying," she said.

Lingsma quoted Indonesian police as telling female refugees: "If the militias are coming to attack you we cannot defend you because you are pro-independence."

She described the scene at the UNAMET compound as "total chaos". She said: "Among the refugees there are 200 babies, and people are desperate and starting to pray and cry at the same time."