Timor-Leste rebel leader says he won't surrender

Timor-Leste's fugitive rebel leader Alfredo Reinado said he has no intention of giving himself up to the Australian troops who are trying to capture him, but he has no intention of harming them either.

"Me, I don't never have a word of surrendering," he said during an interview broadcast on ABC Tuesday.

The rebel leader escaped from a raid by Australian troops on his hideout near the capital of Dili two weeks ago.

He told a journalist of Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC) radio who found him after a two-day trek, that he does not want to give himself up to Australian troops.

"I'll surrender to justice, not to anybody, not to any command or any force," he said.

But he said he never has the intention of shooting Australian troops.

"I never want to shoot any Australian," he said.

When questioned why he previously fired shots at them, Reinado said "I defend myself because they are firing at us first."

Reinado said he does not want to kill in retaliation.

"The Government was responsible, I don't believe people of Australia order(ed) this and if people of Australia (lost) a loved one, you asked your Government who order(ed) this," he said.

"We never want to harm anyone, but we have a right to protect ourselves," he added.

Source: Xinhua