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Australian soldiers stand guard at the airport after they arrive in Dili on May 25, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

 ¡¡ CANBERRA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Friday that 350 Australian troops had been deployed in the strife-torn Timor-Leste and the remainder of the promised 1,300 Australian troops would be there by the end of the weekend.

    Australia Thursday decided to send troops to Timor-Leste at its request for military assistance to help restore order following continuing fighting between government troops and rebel soldiers in the Timor-Leste capital of Dili.

    The first group of 150 Australian troops flew into Dili Thursday afternoon to secure the perimeter of Dili international airport.

    "As we speak there are about 350 Australian troops now in East Timor," Howard told Australia's Southern Cross Broadcasting radio.

    "And it's reasonable to expect that by the end of the weekend all of the entire battalion group force of 1,300 will be there," he said.

    Howard said the deteriorating situation had been closely monitored by Australia, adding troops could not have been sent in any sooner. Enditem