United Nations Radio

The UN in Timor-Leste seized more than 200 home-made weapons on Friday. The weapons sweep was conducted in one of the capital Dili's most volatile neighbourhood.

"Some 110 security officers including UN and Timorese police, members of the Portuguese Formed police unit, and the International Stabilization Forces, searched across the charred remains of Bebonuk... a popular neighbourhood hard hit by the crisis of 2006. Then, and until last year, clashes between martial arts groups and youth gangs were rife. So it's no surprise that the UN-led operation found many home-made weapons such as lethal iron darts, slingshots, machetes, arrow guns and spears. Out of the 345 houses searched, only one refused entry to the multinational teams. No arrests were made as houses were searched upon the residents' acceptance. It's the fourth sweep conducted in that area--the last, according to the UN police, before a gradual handover of Dili's police stations to PNTL, the national police."