East Timor rebels make first step toward complete disarmament

East Timor rebels make first step toward complete disarmament

Lt. Cmdr. Alfredo Reinado, who heads a rebel group that includes soldiers dismissed from the army earlier this year, handed over his M-16 rifle, with telescopic sight, to an Australian soldier.

Then his soldiers turned in their guns after saluting him. Reinado checked that they were unloaded and passed them on to the Australians, who noted down their type and serial numbers, the AP reports.