Trouble in Timor-Leste...

CANBERRA, May 25 (Reuters) - Foreign troops could be in East Timor by late Thursday after the tiny nation asked for help from Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia to quell deadly clashes between sacked military police and government troops.

Two Australian navy ships were already heading towards East Timor and Australia's deputy Defence chief was to visit the East Timorese capital, Dili, on Thursday to finalise details of the deployment.

"We could, if we choose to, have some elements of the Australian defence deployment (in Dili) as early as very late this afternoon or early this evening," Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson told Australian radio on Thursday.

"But that will basically be decided ... today," he said.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Australian embassy in Dili had reported gunfire and people fleeing the city on Thursday.

source: alertnet