Aid worker's final words of warning

Thousands of refugees remain trapped in West Timor

The UN has released details of a dramatic final email sent by one of its workers in West Timor just hours before he was hacked to death by rampaging pro-Indonesian militiamen.

The message, written by American Carlos Caceres, one of three UN staff to be killed, sheds new light on the build up to the attack.

I just heard someone on the radio saying that they are praying for us

Carlos Caceres

"We sit here like bait, unarmed," he wrote in the message sent to a friend at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Macedonian city of Skopje.

"The militias are on the way, and I am sure they will do their best to demolish this office...

"These guys act without thinking and can kill a human being as easily (and painlessly) as I kill mosquitoes in my room," the message continued.

Criminal gang

We are waiting for the enemy

Carlos Caceres

Mr Caceres told his friend the militiaman whose death on Tuesday is believed to have sparked the attack was "the head of one of the most notorious and criminal militia groups of East Timor.

"I was in the office when the news came out that a wave of violence would soon pound Atambua ... we sent most of the staff home, rushing to safety.

"I just heard someone on the radio saying that they are praying for us."

He went on: "You should see this office ... plywood on the windows, staff peering out through the openings in the curtains hastily installed a few minutes ago. We are waiting for the enemy."

Final words

Mr Caceres ended his message saying he was due to start a three-week trip out of Atambua on Thursday.

"I just hope I will be able to leave tomorrow", he said.

The message was read aloud to a meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday by the High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata.

"They were all profoundly moved," said UNHCR spokeswoman Robin Groves.