Jakarta – The United Nations on Tuesday indictedthe former armed forces chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto, along with six other senior generals and East Timor's ex-governor for crimes againsthumanity during the territory's bloody independence vote in 1999, AP reported.

"The accused have all been charged with crimes against humanity for murder, deportation and persecution," the United Nations said in a statement issued in the East Timorese capital of Dili.

The statement said the alleged crimes "were all undertaken as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population of East Timor and specifically targeted those who were believed to be supporters of independence for East Timor."

Topping the list of indictments is Wiranto, who has long been named as the man most responsible for the bloodletting that swept the former Indonesianterritory when its citizens voted for independence in a 1999 UN-sponsored referendum. Rights groups have long called for Wiranto to be held accountable.

Along with Wiranto, those indicted are Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim, Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri, Maj. Gen. Adam Rachmat Damiri, Brig. Gen. Suhartono Suratman, Brig. Gen. Noer Muis, Lt. Col. Yayat Sudrajat and former governor Abilio Soares.

Lawyers for the men, all of whom are believed to be in Indonesia, said they had yet to receive the indictment and declined to comment on its contents. Several of those indicted Monday are among 18 military and police officials already facing trail in Jakarta for their alleged involvement in the violence.