Special report: Earthquake in Indonesia

    CANBERRA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer Tuesday said some Australian troops may stay in Timor-Leste until the elections in May next year.

    Australia has deployed 1,300 troops and dozens of policemen in Timor-Leste to help restore order following continuing fighting sparked by the dismiss of 600 soldiers in March, who went on strike to protest against alleged discrimination in the military based on regional origin.

    The Australian troops and policemen have been trying to calm down the situation since deployment last week when gangs fighting escalated.

    Tirmor-Leste's President Xanana Gusmao met Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and his cabinet Monday for crisis talks and is expected to announce a cabinet reshuffle Tuesday.

    "Whether we'll need to keep that kind of number there for very long remains to be seen," Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

    "We may not have to keep that many soldiers there - there's 1,300 there - for very long," he said.

    "We may have to keep some there, though, for quite some period of time," he said.

    "I can only guess (how long troops will stay) at this stage, but it's possible - I'm not saying it's certain - that we will have to leave some contingent there right through to their next elections in May next year," Downer said.

    He said Australia will unlikely send more troops to Timor-Leste. Enditem