UN extends East Timor stay

The United Nations (UN) is to extend its presence in East Timor for a final 12 months.

The UN was to have pulled out the last of its staff next month, as the nation celebrates its fourth anniversary of independence.

But secretary-general Kofi Annan has announced that in response to requests from the East Timorese Government in Dili, the UN will keep at least 60 staff in East Timor.

Those staff will include civilian, military and police advisers, and human rights officers.

Mr Annan says the new UN mission's main role will be to help guide East Timor to its first parliamentary and presidential elections due in May next year.