Dili – A senior UN official said Friday East Timor will continue to need the presence of the United Nations in the country for some time to come.

Dumisani Kumalo, head of a UN Security Council delegation on a four-day visit to East Timor, said at a press conference at UN headquarters in Dili that the security situation in the country appears to be "very good" but the country still needs a lot of "international support."

"Absolutely, yes, the UN mission is still needed in East Timor, there is no doubt about that, it is needed in East Timor," Kumalo said. The short-term priority, he added, must be to continue national reconciliation and dialogue.

During the visit, the six UN delegation members met with a wide variety of East Timorese, including Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, President Jose Ramos-Horta, to gain a firsthand view of the challenges facing the young country.

Kumalo said the problems of internally displaced persons and those faced by 600 dismissed rebellious army members had been among the major issues raised people during their discussions.

He said people also raised the issues of justice and law and order. "They want to see more justice," Kumalo said bluntly.

He explained that visit was aimed to look at the UN role in the country and make recommendations to the Security Council about the extension of the mandate of the current UN mission beyond Feb. 26 next year.

"We haven't even had time to talk among ourselves what will be in that report, but I can assure you that there will be continued international support for the UN on the ground here to do its work, because we are very pleased with the work the UN has done," Kumalo said.

The delegation consisted of Kumalo, the head of mission from South Africa, Liu Zhenmin from China, Muhammad Anshor from Indonesia, Diana Eloeva from the Russian Federation, Peter Burian from Slovakia and Jackie Wolcott of the United States.