Leader of 600 deserted soldiers Afredo Reinado Tuesday told Xinhua that he was ready for a dialogue with Timor-Leste government to find solution for the current crisis.

"We wait for the result of the government meeting," he said, referring to the ongoing emergency meeting conducted by President Xanana Gusmao and other ministers at the Presidential Palace.

"We are ready to have a dialogue. Since the beginning our struggle has not been with weapons," he said.

Meanwhile, he denied any involvement of his people in the house burning and property looting in recent days.

"My people have not been involved in (the house burning). That is not my purpose. I am sad because of young people's implication (in the house burning)," he said.

Such acts might be triggered off by grievance, he added.

Tension was high in recent days as some 600 people were sacked from the 1,500-member military in April. The deserters were believed to set fire on houses and exchange fire with Timor-Leste soldiers since.

Later they moved to mountains, but rioters took to streets and continued the violence.

More than 20 people have been killed and dozens wounded since the open fight began in April.

Reports said that the current riots were triggered off by the faction clashes within the military and the government and might escalate into a civil war.

Timor-Leste became part of Indonesia after 1976 after centuries of Portuguese control.

The country got independence in 2002 following a referendum in 1999.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2006)