Nigel Wilson – Australia's relations with East Timor have been tested by claims Foreign Minister Alexander Downer verbally abused Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.

The Australian has learnt that at a meeting in Dili on November 27, Mr Downer was strongly critical of Dr Alkatiri and his officials.

Highly placed East Timorese sources said last night that at the meeting, called to discuss the so-called international unitisation agreement on the Sunrise gas reservoirs, Mr Downer was "belligerent and aggressive".

He is reported to have banged the table as he criticised advice Dr Alkatiri was receiving from UN officials.

After the meeting, the Australian Government reneged on an understanding with East Timor that it would ratify the Timor Sea Treaty by the end of the year.

The treaty signed in Dili on May 2O covers the sharing of revenues from oil and gas developments in the Timor Sea, jointly administered by the two countries.

The treaty left open final details of how revenues from the Greater Sunrise deposits, which lie 20.1 per cent in East Timor-controlled waters and 79.9 per cent in a jointly administered area, would be treated.

East Timor sees its share of revenues from the development of the Sunrise deposits as essential to its aim of being independent of international aid donations.

Australian officials said talks on the unitisation agreement would resume in Dili on Monday. A spokesman for Mr Downer said last night: "Idle gossip is not worthwhile commenting on."

It is not the first time Mr Downer has been criticised for his approach to East Timor. During negotiations leading to the signing of the Timor Sea Treaty, UN Minister in Dili Peter Galbraith accused Mr Downer of paternalism in his dealings with the East Timor leaders.