Jakarta – Two alleged East Timor rebels were killed in armed fighting with Indonesian troops in the former Portuguese colony, reports said today.

Lieutenant Colonel Supadi, chief of East Timor's Ermera military district, said the two, killed on Saturday, were identified as Agustinho Mounsinho, 21, and Agustinho Coan, 24.

Supadi said the military shootout came after government forces launched a raid against rebels in Nunglet village. He said at the time six members of East Timor guerrillas were setting up an emergency tent.

Besides killing the two, troops also seized a couple of military bags, medicines, clothes and some other goods, Supadi said, though he did not explain what had happened to the four other Timorese.

Indonesia has been fighting pro-independence rebels since 1975 when it invaded East Timor, a former Portuguese colony about 2,000 kilometres east of Jakarta.

Indonesia annexed the troubled territory as its 27th province in 1976. However, the United Nations and most western countries do not recognise its sovereignty and regards Portugal as East Timor's administering power.