United Nations officials in East Timor have called on Indonesia to put on trial a militia leader detained in connection with alleged atrocities in East Timor.

The man, Moko Soares, was taken into custody by the Indonesian authorities at his home in West Timor near the Bobometo border crossing.

A spokesman for the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor said Mr Soares should be held accountable for his actions in an Indonesian court, and that if he wasn't he should be sent to East Timor for trial.

However he denied reports that the UN had already made any form of extradition request.

The UN suspects Mr Soares of involvement in many killings in the Oecussi enclave of East Timor during the East Timor independence referendum last year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service