21:59 (Canberra) Acting Prime Minister of Australia, Peter Costello, announced in a press conference that East Timor had requested Australia "send defence forces to East Timor to help in maintaining and re-establishing public order".
21:59 (Canberra) Acting Prime Minister of Australia, Peter Costello, declared in a press conference that East Timor had requested Australia "dispatch military forces to East Timor to assist in maintaining and re-establishing public order".