United Nations officials in Indonesia are seeking the extradition of a militia leader who has been accused of carrying out atrocities in East Timor.

The man, known as Moko Soares, was detained by the Indonesian authorities at his home near the Bobometo border crossing inside West Timor.

Mr Soares has been charged with the illegal possession and sale of weapons, but is suspected by the UN of involvement in dozens of killings in the Oecussi enclave of East Timor during the East Timor independence referendum last year.

The BBC Jakarta correspondent says militia members already in custody have accused Mr Soares of ordering them to kill someone connected with the UN to enhance the militia's standing with Indonesian soldiers.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service