NZ asked to send peacekeepers to East Timor

The New Zealand Government has been asked by East Timor to send peace keepers to the troubled island nation.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Helen Clark said early today the request from the East Timor government was received late last night.

He said the Government had received a request from the East Timorese for defence assistance and the New Zealand Government would contact the East Timorese today to see what assistance was required.

Later today New Zealand diplomats and a military attache stationed in Jakarta in Indonesia would assess the situation.

Australia's acting Prime Minister Peter Costello said last night that his country would send troops to East Timor and Portugal announced it would send 120 military police troops.

- NZPA