NZ troops hunt East Timor escapers

New Zealand military personnel are helping to round up prisoners after a mass escape from a Dili prison, Defence Minister Phil Goff says.

About 57 prisoners, including East Timor rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, escaped on Wednesday.

Mr Goff said he was concerned that the inmates apparently just walked out the front gates of the prison.

New Zealand and the multinational force were not responsible for running the prisons in East Timor or for maintaining security within them, he said.

"However, New Zealand has responsibility for maintaining order in the Becora district and regularly patrols the area around the prison."

- NZPA