United Nations civil police in the Suai region of East Timor have detained two people suspected of committing infractions of election campaign rules, a UN source told Lusa on Friday.

The suspects are both members of Fretilin, the historic pro- independence party and were allegedly involved in "coercion" of potential voters. Party material "distributed to non-supporters of Fretilin" was also confiscated.

"The initial investigation confirmed that the complaint was substantiated and two people were thus detained" and will be brought before the district court, said the source contacted by Lusa in Dili.

The detentions were the most serious result of the at least 10 investigations undertaken by UN authorities following complaints by East Timorese citizens or organizations.

Despite the complaints, foreign UN personnel contacted by Lusa emphasized that the electoral process in East Timor was proceeding "much better than in other similar situations".

"During the Bosnian vote there were hundreds of complaints per district. The numbers here are much less. They are occasional cases and none of them causes major risks to security or stability", one source said, adding that "many of the complaints are nothing more than rumors or attempts to spread fear".