JAKARTA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the Indonesian government will selectively open its border with Timor-Leste, according to Antara news agency Sunday. 

    "It is necessary to open the border in a selective manner in order to enable traffic between two countries to run normally again," the president said at a press conference after a meeting with his East-Timorese counterpart, Xanana Gusmao, at the Grand Bali Beach hotel on Saturday evening.

    The opening of the border selectively will be conducted for the sake of social and economic consideration as well as to smooth traffic between the two countries, Susilo was quoted as saying.

    He further stressed the border would be opened even though the security situation in Timor-Leste had yet to return to normal.

    Susilo also pointed out that the Indonesian government fully supported the steps taken by Timor-Leste's leader in settling his country's problem soon.

    Indonesia closed its border with East-Timor recently in anticipation of a possible exodus of Timor-Leste people into Indonesian controlled West Timor, but no significant border crossings have been seen so far since the unrest.

    It was said that more than 1,500 of about 3,000 Indonesian nationals residing in Dili and other areas had been evacuated after unrest.

    "Around 1,000 others are still living in Dili and I have asked the government of Timor-Leste to guarantee their safety," Susilo said.

    Meanwhile, Timor-Leste President Xanana expressed his gratitude and respect to high attention and sympathy of Indonesian government and people.

    Timor-Leste plunged into violence in March after Prime Minister Alkatiri dismissed 600 of the 1,400-strong army for mutiny when they protested about alleged discrimination against soldiers from the west of the country.

    Previously troops had clashed with police, but violence later spread to youth gangs from the eastern and western sides of the country.

    The fighting ballooned into widespread street violence that killed at least 30 people and drove 130,000 from their homes.

    Xanana's visit to Indonesia was taken place a day after rebels began disarming in what could be a breakthrough for peace. On Friday, 12 rebels handed over their weapons to Australian peacekeeper.

    The rebels' leader Reinado said he turned over the weapons at the president's request but reiterated his long-standing position that Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri must step down in order for peace to last. Enditem