Jakarta – An East Timorese militia leader claimed yesterday his life was in danger because he had threatened to expose details of the Indonesian army's involvement in last year's destruction of the territory.

Senior Indonesian military and police officers, however, denied the claim. "I am being tracked by army and police intelligence officers," militia chief Joanico Cesario said in a telephone interview from West Timor. "I feel like a fugitive."

The militia chief said he and three other gang leaders had sent a letter to the UN Security Council offering information about the violence that swept the fledgling half-island country after it voted overwhelmingly for independence from Indonesia last year.

Human-rights groups have long blamed the Indonesian military for inciting and training the militia gangs, which went on a rampage that killed at least 250 people.

Several army generals and militiamen have been named suspects in an Indonesian government inquiry into last year's violence and destruction. However, no charges have been filed.

On September 5, a prominent militia leader and suspect in the investigation was murdered in Indonesian West Timor.

His killing triggered a deadly riot by a militia mob that left three foreign aid workers dead. Cesario, who heads the 60-member "Saka" militia, said he feared for his life because of what he knew. "I am scared," he said.

Maj-Gen Kiki Syahnakri, regional military commander, and senior police officers denied their forces had tried to stop East Timorese militia from talking to investigators. "No one has threatened the four men," said provincial police chief Brig-Gen I Made Mangku Pastika.

The Jakarta Post quoted General Kiki as saying that the four were most likely threatened in terms of violation of the law, because they were allegedly implicated in several crimes, including their resistance to surrendering their weapons.