DILI, Timor-Leste, May 28 (Xinhua) -- One major supermarket and several houses, including those of government officials and ruling party leaders, were burned here on Sunday, as the rioters escalated violence and their actions became more threatening, said Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste Chen Jian.

    However, no casualty was reported yet, he said while quoting information from an ambassadors' meeting held Sunday morning at Timor-Leste's Foreign Ministry.

    The government would convene a high-level meeting of senior political and military leaders on Monday to make an overall assessment of the current situation, according to Chen.

    At present, the security of the capital was under control by some 1,500 Australian soldiers, who safeguarded the airport and the main road and bridge leading there.

    Several hundreds of refugees gathered outside the airport to await food and shelter supply.

    "They have been here for several days and there is no violence on Sunday around the airport," Australian soldier Whaikkawa told Xinhua.

    Meanwhile, rioters wielding knives and spears could be seen occasionally along the major roads not far away from the city's sole airport.

    Tension was up as some 600 people sacked from the military set fire on houses and exchanged fire with Timor-Leste soldiers earlier this week.

    Under Dili's permission, Australian soldiers entered to help control the situation. New Zealand, Portugese and Malaysia also sent their military staff here to help restore the law and order.

    Timor-Leste became independent form Indonesia in 1999 after a referendum supervised by the United Nations. Enditem