Dili - A small group of New Zealand soldiers shot and killed an armed militia member near Suai, East Timor, last night. The New Zealand Defence Force said in a statement today that none of the soldiers were injured in the 11pm incident about 4.5km north of Suai, where New Zealand troops are based near the West Timor border.

Senior national officer Brigadier Lou Gardiner said the militia member was patrolling towards the soldiers when they spotted him. "The contact was initiated by our soldiers when the militia member approached their position. "The militia member was clearly identified by his actions in the manner that he was carrying his small arms weapon. "He was then engaged by our soldiers."

Brig Gardiner said the soldiers had been stationary at the time to help them observe militia movements from east to west, which had been occurring in their patrol area over the past week.

The troops had received three reports of militia member sightings earlier in the day. It was the second shooting of a militia member by New Zealand troops in the past three weeks.

A militiaman was killed late last month after a small group of them approached a hidden New Zealand patrol with their weapons raised. They were fired on by the New Zealanders and one was killed.

A radio report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said the militiaman killed last night was carrying a military-issue SKS assault rifle, grenades and a large amount of rounds. He was also wearing an Indonesian military-issued uniform.

The army is believed to be concerned the contact was only 4.5km north of Suai, where the New Zealand battalion is based, and well inside the New Zealand contingent's area of operations. It was also close to the areas visited by Prime Minister Helen Clark last weekend. Under United Nations rules of engagement, the Kiwi troops have the right to shoot first without challenging a hostile contact.

Army spokesman Captain Mark Richards said the New Zealand troops were not surprised by the presence of armed militia and were prepared for them. "We have trained for this type of thing. They know what to expect over there and they are going about it in the most professional manner they possibly can."

He said the army has been getting good intelligence about militia groups, partially because the Kiwi peacekeepers were well liked by the East Timorese people and had developed a close rapport with them.

Many of the militia groups were still thought to be operating out of refugee camps on the western side of the border. Brig Gardiner said the dead militiaman was well-armed and well-trained. "These guys are not just one or two-days-trained people. They know what they are doing."

The man was thought to be carrying an SKS 7.62mm assault rifle, grenades and a lot of ammunition. The last militiaman shot by the army 10 days ago was also carrying an SKS assault rifle, grenades and 16 loaded magazines. However, Brig Gardiner said it was unlikely the two militiamen were from the same group. "We reported that other group had gone back to West Timor. We can't say categorically but it is unlikely."

The army has begun an investigation into the shooting but it was still in its early stages. He said the New Zealand peacekeepers were working closely with the Indonesian Army (TNI) and there was nothing to support suggestions that the TNI or its elite special forces command, Kopassus, were arming or training the militia. He said the TNI was also telling the peacekeepers it was working towards the disarming of the militia.

Although the army was concerned that the contact was only 4.5km from its headquarters at Suai there was a lot of heavy bush in the area. The contact and shooting was not a surprise. "We know they are there so no, we are not surprised."

The peacekeepers do not have the authority to cross the border in pursuit of militia into Indonesian-controlled West Timor, nor would they be seeking that, Brig Gardiner said. "It is not appropriate. The security of Indonesia is Indonesia's responsibility." He said he was happy the troops were doing a very good job of protecting the East Timorese people. "That is what it is about."