E. Timorese Quit Police, Military

Hundreds of East Timorese soldiers and police have resigned from Indonesia’s armed forces, the government said, deepening concern that they may join militias vowing to fight a multinational force in their homeland. Military commander Gen. Wiranto said about 600 former soldiers and police were among thousands of East Timorese refugees now in West Timor, an official said. Military officials have said that many East Timorese soldiers and police withdrawn from the territory had asked to resign to join militias that have vowed to attack an Australian-led force sent to restore peace in East Timor.