Hundreds of East Timorese students have occupied the parliament building in the provincial capital, Dili, in protest against an alleged massacre by Indonesian troops.

Security forces in full riot gear were deployed outside as the students chanted pro-independence slogans.

Human rights groups say dozens of civilians were killed during an army operation against pro-independence guerrillas last week.

A former governor of East Timor, Mario Carascalao, was quoted as saying on Sunday that forty people were killed when troops raided villages in the district of Alas south of the capital.

The Indonesian government denied that so many had died.