Jakarta – Troops in the troubled Indonesian territory of East Timor were hunting for rebels who killed three soldiers and were holding two hostage, reports said Thursday.

East Timor military chief Colonel Tono Suratman said the troops were searching an eare in Alas sub-district, 200 kilometres (124 miles) south of here, the Jakarta Post daily said. "ABRI (the Indonesian armed forces) will continue to hunt down the guerrillas. As long as they do not surrender, we will attack and arrest them," Suratman told journalists.

A gang of 50 men attacked a police post in Alas on Monday, killing three soldiers and abducting 13. One of the rebels was also killed. Suratman said the raiders, who had taken firearms and ammunition from the post, released 11 soldiers on Tuesday.

The military knew where the rebels were and would attempt to persuade them to surrender, he said. "If they do not heed us, then we will attack them."

Monday's attack also left one of the attacker dead. The victims was identified as a local youth known to be troublesome. The killings brought the number known killed in East Timor in the past two weeks to six soldiers and four civilians.