The foreign minister for Timor Leste, Jose Ramos Horta, has urged the United Nations to deploy a robust international police force ahead of next year's national elections.
Timor Leste says it does not need Australian troops, but would welcome the UN's support.
Briefing the Security Council on the current wave of unrest in
his country, Dr Ramos Horta says that in light of recent events, an international police force is needed during the period leading up to the elections.
He also says that the proposed levels of troop deployment by the UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, are not enough.
"The president, the prime minister and I consider it desirable to have again a robust international peace force during the period leading to the elections. Such a force of at least a company strength with appropriate logistical means is required by the volatility and fragility of the situation."
In the most recent report on Timor Leste it was recommended that twenty-five UN policemen to be deployed initially, subject to change as the electoral campaigns intensify at a later date.