The key vote on the future of East Timor has been postponed for two weeks by the United Nations because of the continuing violence in the territory.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said in a report to the Security Council that he could not certify the referendum would be free and fair if it went ahead on 8 August. He blamed the poor security situation in the territory, and what he called the absence of a "level playing field" for the two conflicting sides. "We have delayed it briefly but the ballot will go ahead ... and the East Timorese will have a free choice," Mr Annan told reporters. He also wants time for the UN observer mission there to build up its numbers.

Widespread Intimidation

The UN brokered an agreement in May between Indonesia, which invaded East Timor in 1975, and Portugal, the territory's former colonial power. The deal provided for a vote on proposals for autonomy. If this was rejected, the Indonesian Government said it was prepared to let the territory become independent. But the agreement specified that violence and intimidation must end in order to ensure a secure environment for a free and fair vote.

Earlier this week the human rights organisation, Amnesty International reported the security situation remained dire and that there was widespread intimidation of pro-independence supporters. In a report last month, Mr Annan laid the blame for the violence on pro-Indonesian militias.

It is thought the majority of East Timorese favour independence, and that some of the violence is the work of anti-independence militias, some of whom are being supported by Indonesian security forces.

Amnesty's accusations have been denied by Jakarta, but Mr Annan, speaking at Moscow airport during a visit to Russia, said a brief delay of the poll would be beneficial because of the security and logistical problems in the territory.

UN Deployment

"We have to ensure that the security situation was conducive and appropriate, that the logistical problems were solved, that we could deploy everybody on time."

UN arrangements for the ballot have been under a tight schedule since the Security Council voted only on 11 June to establish a mission (Unamet) to oversee the vote. A mission of 900, including 270 civilian police, 50 military liaison officers and hundreds of electoral officials and administrators, is being deployed.

Almost a quarter of the 800,000 residents in East Timor have died from fighting, famine and disease since Indonesia's invasion in 1975.