Violence Grips East Timor

Police in East Timor's capital declared a nighttime curfew on Wednesday after officers fired on student protesters, killing at least two people and sparking a rampage of looting and arson that left the prime minister's house burned to the ground.

The rioting, the worst since the poverty-stricken country became independent in May, started on the second day of protests by about 500 students who gathered at police headquarters in Dili to demand the release of a fellow student arrested for alleged gang violence.

President Xanana Gusmao denied remarks by officials from the United Nations that a state of emergency had been introduced to quell the violence. The United Nations is assisting with security in East Timor after administering the former Indonesian province for two years.

The violence began early Wednesday when some students started throwing stones at East Timorese and U.N. police guarding the headquarters. Officers opened fire, killing two people, including a 16-year-old boy, witnesses said.

U.N. police chief Peter Miller said that only one person had been confirmed killed. Hospital officials said they were treating at least 24 injured, and that some of them were seriously hurt.

After the shootings, the students began rioting and were joined by other residents of the city.

Gusmao, who led the country's struggle for independence and enjoys huge popularity among the country's 800,000 people, arrived at the police headquarters to try to restore order. Dodging flying rocks, he held his arms aloft to appeal for calm, but the students ignored him.

Gusmao was escorted inside the building by police protecting him with riot shields, his eyes red from tear gas fired to disperse the mob.

The rioting quickly spread to other parts of the seaside city.

Mobs set fire to the Australian-owned "Hello Mister" supermarket, which sells mostly imported goods to U.N. workers and other foreigners in the country. At least one police car also was burned.

They looted nearby shops and hotels, taking televisions and motorbikes.

Crowds also burned down the private residence of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, a senior U.N. source said on condition of anonymity.

The rioting had stopped by nightfall, Josey said, adding an investigation had been ordered into the violence.

Miller, the U.N. police chief, said a 7 p.m. curfew had been imposed on Dili and officers planned to arrest anyone violating it.

Minor unrest is not uncommon in East Timor, but Wednesday's violence was unusual and represented a blow to the country's efforts to establish peaceful democracy and deal with poverty and widespread unemployment.

The parliament building in Dili also was vandalized, as was a mosque catering to the city's Muslim minority. Most of East Timor's people are Roman Catholics.

East Timor became the world's newest nation in May after 24 years of violent Indonesian occupation. Indonesia invaded the country only nine days after Portugal gave up control of the former colony, and imposed a regime that led to the deaths of at least 100,000 people, according to the CIA.

The country is only slightly larger than Connecticut and is home to about 900,000 people, who make an average of $500 a year.

A State Department warning issued in October advised Americans in East Timor to "exercise caution, avoid large gatherings, and remain alert with regard to their personal security." The warning alluded to terrorist threats but also alluded to criminal activity in the young country.