Dili – Some 200 East Timorese staged a rally in the new nation's capital Dili on Tuesday to demand compensation for their past services to former ruler Indonesia.

The rally was held outside the parliament office and was continuing past midday amid tight security by some 150 United Nations policemen and East Timor police. Some 50 Portuguese UN peacekeeping troops were also guarding the protest.

The protesters, most of whom were public servants during Indonesian rule, want compensation for their services before East Timor broke away in 1999. They met Sukihiro Hasegawa, a representative of the UN Mission in Support of East Timor, and conveyed their demands to him.

Protesters also called for their demands to be conveyed to the Indonesian embassy in Dili but no rallies were planned outside the mission.

In a statement the protesters denounced what they said was a warning from Prime Minister not to go ahead with the rally. "We just want to fight for our rights," said one banner.

East Timor, still heavily dependent on international aid, was Asia's poorest nation when it became independent last May after 31 months of UN stewardship.