Australian Federal Police and Australian troops patrolling the streets of Dili have located more than 500 guns and made 20 arrests in the troubled East Timor capital in the past week, the AFP says.
In addition, the joint patrol has seized hundreds of other weapons such as machetes and knives.
AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said the violence that had torn apart East Timor in recent weeks was subsiding, but security forces were still prepared for more unrest at any time.
Mr Keelty and Australian Justice Minister Chris Ellison flew into Dili today for meetings with the East Timorese government and other leaders, as well as Australian military and police commanders.
Senator Ellison described his meeting with East Timorese Interior Minister Alcino Baras as fruitful.
He said they discussed matters relating to the operational nature of policing and the prospects for a joint policing headquarters in Dili, ahead of the expected arrival next week of 250 Malaysian police, adding to the 200 AFP officers and others already in place.
"We also discussed a number of investigations taking place and we discussed the cooperations taking place between the East Timorese authorities and our police forces on the ground," Senator Ellison said.
"I'm happy with the cooperation we're getting from the Prosecutor General's office and Dr Baras expressed his support for that to continue."
During the brief visit, AAP witnessed one man being detained by Malaysian troops and saw a small restaurant, within 200m of the main United Nations compound, which had been burnt out last night.
"Whilst the situation has been good over the past ten days to a week, a situation like this could flare up quickly," Mr Keelty told reporters.
"You wouldn't want to anticipate the early withdrawal of anybody."
The rebuilding of East Timorese institutions, including the local police force, was a critical priority, he said.
The AFP commander in Dili, Steve Lancaster, said daytime patrolling on Dili streets had located 509 guns in the past week and police had made 20 arrests.
Senator Ellison said taking weapons out of the community continued to be a feature of the police operation.
"We agreed this was a high priority," he said.
"I think it's agreed we're seeing a gradual change from a military-style operation to one which requires policing.
"On June 8, we commenced joint patrols – AFP patrolling with the ADF (Australian Defence Force) – which resulted in, I think, a step forward in relation to people in the area of Dili."
The violence was sparked in March when the prime minister dismissed 600 striking soldiers. The dismissed soldiers clashed with loyalist forces, which led to widespread street violence in which 30 people died and nearly 150,000 fled their homes.
AAP
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