UN ends its East Timor peacekeeping mission after 13 years

The UN ended its peacekeeping mission in East Timor yesterday after 13 years in Asia's youngest nation following a bloody transition to independence - leaving behind a country facing the task of tackling rampant poverty.

UN forces first entered the territory around the vote for independence from Indonesia in 1999 that gave way to political unrest and bloodshed. Around 1,500 peacekeepers had been based there since.

The final batch of troops and logistics staff left yesterday morning as the mission prepared to take down its flag, departing from a country struggling with malnutrition and maternal mortality rates that are among the worst in the world.

Yet calm has been restored to the nation of 1.1 million, and leaders said they were excited about the new direction despite the many problems that lay ahead for the fragile democracy.

"In the end we have to say goodbye to the UN with ... high appreciation for what they have been doing in Timor-Leste," Deputy Prime Minister Fernando Araujo said at end-of-year festivities outside the government palace on Sunday night.

He said East Timor would first focus on improving schools, hospitals and human resources in the public sector.