East Timor Airport Closed Due to Violence

The international airport in East Timor was closed today (25 October) after a man was shot and killed near the airport.

Aviation authority and hospital officials reportedly said that the killing was due to clashes between rival gangs. Antonio Caleres, director of East Timor's main hospital, said that the shooting was part of increasing violence recently in which four people have been killed and 47 wounded.

Additionally, the Australian Defence Force reported that one of its soldiers, part of a foreign peace-keeping mission, today fired shots in self defence at an armed man who approached one the positions at the airport.

According to The Associated Press, the man fled. it was not clear whether the two incidents were related.

Romaldo da Silva, director of East Timor's Civil Aviation Authority, said the airport was completely closed due to security reasons as there was no security for the staff.

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