Dili – The leader of a group of nearly 600 East Timorese soldiers dismissed from the armed forces for going on strike appealed Friday to President Xanana Gusmao to mediate in their row with the military leadership.

On Thursday, army commander Brig. Gen. Taur Matan Ruak announced that 593 soldiers who began a strike on Feb. 8 had been fired from the service. "This is a completely unjust decision by the commander," said Lt. Gastao Salsinha, who coordinated the strike.

The strikers, who were protesting working conditions and promotion rules, have demanded that commanders eliminate "nepotism and injustice" from the service.

The dismissals of the soldiers is a serious blow to the 1,600-strong East Timor Defense Force, which was set up after East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999.

Gastao said the firings were contrary to Xanans's instructions for both sides to compromise. "We want our president to solve this problem," Gastao said in an interview. "President Gusmao is abroad now and I hope he will return soon and solve our problem."

Xanana is currently in Africa, visiting Angola and Mozambique, officials said.