United Nations - The UN Security Council yesterday unanimously approved a force of nearly 11,000 troops and police and thousands of civilian administrators to lead devastated East Timor to independence in two to three years. The UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (Untaet) will replace an Australian-led international force called Interfet which was dispatched hurriedly last month to restore order in the former Portuguese colony which Indonesia invaded and annexed in 1975-1976. Secretary General Kofi Annan named the UN's top official for coordinating humanitarian aid, Sergio Veiera de Mello, as the chief administrator in East Timor.

The new operation will comprise up to 8,950 troops, 200 military observers, 1,640 police officers and a large and an unspecified number of civilian officials. The council's British-drafted resolution gives the UN troops, like those in Interfet, a robust mandate under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows the use of force. Their initial mandate is until Jan 31, 2001, but Mr Annan has estimated that it will take two to three years to shepherd the territory to independence. The ambitious mission will administer virtually all public services in the devastated territory, including the justice system, following the departure of most of its Indonesian civil servants.

East Timor erupted in an orgy of killing and destruction by pro-Indonesian militias after nearly 80 per cent of the voters opted for independence from Indonesia in an Aug 30 UN-organised poll. Many of the 7,500 Interfet troops would be integrated into the new UN command, expected to be deployed early next year. This means costs will be borne by all UN members rather than by the troop-contributing countries. The cost of the new UN operation is expected to be problematic with estimates ranging from US$700,000 (S$1.17 million) to US$1 billion during its first year of operation.

Meanwhile, a UN official said pro-Indonesia militias have committed systematic looting, rape and killing in the East Timorese enclave of Oekussi. UN humanitarian affairs officer, Patrick Burgess said there had been systematic intimidation, killings, rapes and people being forced over the border. Mr Burgess, who was part of the first group of officials to enter Oekussi after multinational forces stormed ashore in the enclave on Friday, painted a picture of utter destruction there. He said Oekussi town, which was normally home to 11,000 people, was now devoid of people, vehicles and even animals.