Mark Dodd, Dili – Two days before the start of East Timor's election campaign for a Constituent Assembly, the territory's United Nations administrator, Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, has promised maximum security to ensure a peaceful and trouble-free ballot.

Answering questions about election security from National Council members two days before the country's 36-member de facto parliament dissolves, Mr Vieira de Mello acknowledged that security was the main concern of East Timorese during the August 30 ballot.

He called on the 1,400-strong armed UN Civilian Police force (CivPol) to be "vigilant and visible", saying they would be supported by another 8,000 armed peacekeepers. "We are going to take all necessary measures to prevent individuals or groups from a small minority trying to subvert law and order during the election campaign and trying to frustrate the aspirations of the vast majority of the East Timorese population," said Mr Vieira de Mello, the head of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor

He was referring to the Popular Council for the Defence of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, a radical political group opposed to the UN mission that is demanding the reinstatement of a short-lived 1975 republican government. He acknowledged receiving several letters warning of violence including one purportedly signed by a dead former Falintil commander, Nicolau Lobato, saying a force of 2,000 guerilla fighters would soon descend from the mountains to restore "law and order" and that many people would be killed. Another message warned that East Timor would be "swimming in blood" after the elections.

Mr Vieira de Mello urged East Timorese to ignore the rumours. "I think we all know who is spreading these rumours," he told council members, adding: "We have a body of law here that is going to provide security and stability."

One Western diplomat who asked not to be named said there was virtually no chance of a repeat of the militia violence that occurred during the 1999 referendum which left 1,500 people dead, tens of thousands deported and the country in ruins. "There is not going to be civil war," the diplomat said. "We do not expect widespread violence; we think there is a chance of sporadic localised incidents, and we have already seen some. "The issue boils down to who is capable of organising a challenge to the PKF [peacekeeping force] or CivPol."

Mr Vieira de Mello said he would send an assessment mission to report on the current situation in four districts which he considered were most prone to election violence – Baucau, Viqueque, Same, Dili and the Ermera/Aileu border.