JAKARTA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- At least dozens of houses were set on fire by militants Saturday in Timor-Leste's capital of Dili and the number of casualties was not known yet, according to reports reaching here from Dili.

    Despite efforts by foreign troops to stop violence that has plagued the country for days, militants were seen throwing rocks through the windows of dozens of houses in southern Dili and setting them on fire.

    Women and children fled their homes for shelter in a nearby church.

    The dispute started in March after Timor-Leste's 14,000-strong army fired nearly 40 percent of its troops following a month-long strike to protest alleged discrimination in the military.

    Some of the dismissed soldiers fled the capital and set up positions in the surrounding hills, threatening guerrilla warfare if they were not reinstated.

    Several countries have decided to withdraw their nationals from the country under the deteriorating situation. Enditem