The Bishop of East Timor, Carlos Belo, has turned down an invitation by the Indonesia President, B.J. Habibie, to discuss the situation in East Timor.

Bishop Belo said he wouldn't go to Jakarta until the government implemented a list of suggestions he'd made to President Habibie at a meeting last June.

They include a referendum on self-determination, which has been ruled out by President Habibie, who's offered autonomy instead.

UN-sponsored negotiations are taking place involving Indonesia and the former colonial power, Portugal, over the status of East Timor, which was annexed by Indonesia in 1975.