(29 May 2006)
1. Various of East Timorese protesters in front of presidential palace shouting and holding banners
2. President Xanana Gusmao surrounded by men trying to calm protestors
3. SOUNDBITE: (Tetun) Xanana Gusmao, President of East Timor:
"You should go to your homes, we promise that we will resolve the East Timor problems. Please listen to me, therefore please go home and unite. We must embrace, unite and stay in our homes."
4. Chinese nationals leaving East Timor
5. Woman holding Chinese flag
6. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) Wang Li-shang, Chinese contract worker:
"I feel very happy that I can go back safely. I thank the entire crew from the Chinese Embassy who have assisted us for evacuation. It is very appreciated."
11. Various of Chinese nationals with suitcases
12. Various of Chinese people with flags boarding plane
13. Various of Australian Federal Police arriving in East Timor
STORYLINE:
East Timor's Cabinet held a crisis meeting on Monday after rebel soldiers offered peace talks, while roaming gangs burned houses in parts of the capital despite patrols by Australia peacekeepers aimed at restoring order.
The meeting comes as President Xanana Gusmao appealed for calm and asked people to "go home and unite", following a week of violence that has killed 27 people.
The conflict broke out earlier this month with clashes between the army and rebel soldiers who are split between those perceived to have been pro-Indonesian against those who wanted independence.
Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri was escorted to the meeting by Australian peacekeepers. The violence has exposed factionalism and disarray within the government, which was forced to seek international help to quell the unrest.
Outside the meeting venue, dozens of protesters demanded the resignation of Alkatiri, who has said the violence is a plot to overthrow him.
Under the country's constitution, Gusmao must convene the Council of State before dissolving parliament, dismissing the government or declaring a state of emergency or martial law.
The rebels have pledged not to attack East Timor's capital and said they were ready for peace talks to ease the violence ravaging Dili.
Also on Monday, a charter plane evacuated Chinese nationals who had sought shelter at their embassy during the violence.
Some 200 Chinese nationals were offered tents, food, water, medicine and other living necessities, China's Foreign Ministry said on its Web site.
No casualties were reported among the 500 Chinese nationals living in East Timor, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Australian Federal Police arrived East Timor, adding to the 13-hundred Australian soldiers and smaller contingents of Malaysian and New Zealand peacekeepers.
The current violence is the most serious in the region since East Timor's upheaval in 1999 when its vote for independence from Indonesia in a referendum sparked widespread mayhem by militias linked to the Indonesian military.
East Timor declared itself independent in 2002.
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