The peace-keeping forces, investigatiing the disappearance of 150,000 people, suspect many bodies may have been disposed of at sea.

Mutilated corpses have begun washing up on the East Timor coastline.

Inland, five miles from the border with West Timor, near the town of Maliana, the soldiers have found piles of clothing beside a lake and a police station where it is thought at least 40 people were killed.

The BBC's David Willis describes what the Gurkhas have discovered

Corporal Rob Balmer, of the Military police, found bone fragments at the scene but admitted: "Someone did an almost perfect job of removing all the evidence."

The team of Gurkhas is questioning local people and piecing together rumours and hearsay.

Major Tim Warrington said: "Hearsay will probably turn into the truth that we're looking for".