Manila – Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas on Monday called "a myth" statements by East Timor's resistance leaders that the territory would vote overwhelmingly for independence if this month's ballot on self-rule was free.

Alatas, in Manila to receive diplomatic honours from Philippine President Joseph Estrada, also voiced hopes that armed groups supporting independence or autonomy for the Jakarta-ruled territory would be disarmed before the August 30 vote.

Alatas said "the ballot can go both ways," adding: "It's not so clear who will win or who will lose."

"There has been a myth going on for a long time as if it is for sure that 90 percent of the people in East Timor, if given a chance, would choose independence and only five percent would choose autonomy," he added. "This is a myth, of course. Everybody knows that that is not the situation."

East Timorese independence leader Jose Ramos-Horta had told reporters on a visit to Manila late last month he believed 90 percent of East Timorese would vote to break away from Indonesia if they were given a chance to freely express their wishes. Alatas said he did not wish to speculate on the outcome.