Dili – East Timor's chief prosecutor has asked judges to revoke an arrest warrant for Indonesian presidential candidate Gen. Wiranto over the 1999 violence in the half-island nation, saying prosecutors needed to further review the case.

Longuinhos Monteiro described the warrant issued by the UN-backed special tribunal earlier this week as "premature."

"My men have jumped the gun and it was a stupid move," Longuinhos Monteiro said, referring to the UN-backed special prosecutors in his office who issued Wiranto's warrant earlier this week. "I've filed a letter, not to close the case, but to revise it," Monteiro said in a press statement received Thursday.

Wiranto headed Indonesia's army when East Timor voted for independence after 24 years of Indonesian occupation, sparking a rampage by troops and their militia proxies that killed 1,500 people and destroyed much of the infrastructure.

He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the indictment was an effort to undermine his candidacy in upcoming presidential elections in Indonesia.

East Timor's political leaders have said they would not support the case against Wiranto, arguing that improving relations with their giant neighbor is more important than seeking justice for the victims.

Last year, UN prosecutors working in the tiny nation indicted Wiranto for his alleged command responsibility for "murder, deportation and persecution" committed during the violence.

East Timor became the world's newest nation in 2001 after a period of transitional rule by the United Nations. The world body still keeps a small peacekeeping force, provides technical assistance and funds efforts to bring those responsible for crimes against humanity to justice.

Wiranto is running for president in Indonesia's July 5 election. Recent polls have suggested that he trails far behind the front-runner in the race, former security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri.