Rebel Soldiers Surrender Arms: Timor Leste

Maybe, just maybe there will be some kind of normalcy returning to the strife torn country of Timor Leste with a group of rebel soldiers surrendering their weapons to Australian peacekeepers as a part of a process aimed at restoring calm.

The tiny Pacific country was thrown into chaos in May after almost 600 members of the 1,400 strong army were sacked splitting the security forces and unleashing violence and looting that was only ended by the arrival of an Australian led intervention force.

Major Augusto Araujo, head of the small group of rebel soldiers urged all parties to hand over illegal weapons. His group is the latest of the renegade groups of soldiers to hand in small caches of weapons in recent weeks.

Araujo was quoted as saying that they want show to the world and the people of Timor Leste that they don't want to fight anymore and that they support peace. Apparently the soldiers handed over nine guns including four M-16s during the exchange in the town of Gleno about 30 km southwest of the capital Dili.

Araujo said "We also ask President Xanana to ensure all are disarmed holding illegal weapons otherwise Xanana will lose the people's trust".

A new prime minister is expected to be picked this week with Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former foreign minister Jose Ramos-Horta widely regarded as the most likely candidate.