NZers on patrol as Timor heads to polls

New Zealand Defence Force personnel will patrol the streets of Dili tomorrow as Timor Leste votes for a new president.

All was peaceful for the first round of elections in April, and New Zealand Defence Force senior national officer Colonel Paul Van Den Broek today hoped tomorrow would be the same.

"We largely expect tomorrow's elections to pass without incident, however we are ready to respond to unrest anywhere in our area of operations should we be required."

New Zealand Defence Force personnel will conduct "presence" patrols in Dili during the voting, and air force helicopters will be used to collect ballot boxes from outlying areas once polling closes.

United Nations police are providing security at polling booths.

- NZPA