Fears are mounting that violence may flare again in East Timor after a prominent rebel leader was broken out of jail, together with 50 other prisoners.
The Australian government fears rebels could re-arm themselves, setting back security efforts in the wake of the deadly violence that forced international troops to take control of Timor in May.
Rebel militia leader Alfredo Reinado was among 57 prisoners who broke out of Dili's Becora Prison yesterday after what is believed to have been a planned diversion by visitors to the jail.
However, international peacekeepers now searching for the escapees are less concerned about the prospect of violence returning to the tiny nation.
Brigadier Mick Slater, the Australian leading the international peacekeepers, rebuked "panic" merchants warning that turmoil could return to the tiny nation.
The streets of Dili were much different now to when violence broke out in April and May, he told the Seven Network.
"There are now several hundred police, plus well over a thousand soldiers here, that weren't here at the height of the crisis," Brig Slater said.
"If people are out there ringing the alarms of panic then they're probably being a little irresponsible in doing so."
Despite Brigadier Slater's call for calm, the government is worried about the potential for trouble.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will travel to Dili on Sunday, where he will discuss the crisis with Timor's President Xanana Gusmao and Prime Minister Jose Ramos Horta.
Mr Downer warns it could be a tough task to find the escapees and he has serious concerns they will be able to get their hands on weapons.
He described the breakout as a major setback to law and order but stopped short of suggesting the rebels would go on a rampage.
"Whether they will themselves commit acts of violence, we have no information on that," Mr Downer said.
"One of the concerns we have about East Timor is that there are a lot of weapons out there and a lot of weapons unaccounted for.
"Obviously people who have been in prison could gain access to those weapons and that could be a concern."
Long-time East Timor watcher Max Stahl, who is close friends with Dr Ramos Horta, believes attempts to capture Reinado will almost certainly end in violence.
"Any attempt to take him back will almost certainly fail, and it's likely to provoke an armed and bloody confrontation," he said.
Reinado, who was blamed for some of the worst violence that took place in East Timor earlier this year, was being held in custody on charges of attempted murder and firearms offences.
He was arrested with 20 other men last month over their role in the violence that erupted in and around Dili in April and May.
Foreign reports quote a jail official describing how guards were threatened with grass cutters and told they'd be killed unless they released Reinado and the other inmates.
Justice Minister Chris Ellison believes the break-out was no accident.
"The escape of prisoners such as Reinado is among our worries over the potential for this event to destabilise the country," he said.
Prime Minister John Howard promised the matter was being fully investigated.
"I am concerned that it has happened," he told Macquarie Radio network.
"Whether it has happened as easily as has been reported in the media today, I don't know at the moment, but we do want to get to the bottom of the circumstances that led to this breakout."
Military spokesman James Baker was not too concerned about the threat posed by Reinado.
"Mr Reinado is not considered an enormous security threat," Major Baker told ABC Television.
"Obviously the Timorese community has a great interest in ensuring he is returned to custody.
"But it's not expected that the security situation will be severely affected by this escape."
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