Sara Everingham – A bitter dispute between East Timor's Government and the Australian-based oil and gas company Woodside is continuing.

Woodside and East Timor can't agree on how to process gas from the Greater Sunrise field in the Timor Sea.

In its latest criticism, the East Timor Government said Woodside's behaviour means the company has had to suspend its operations on Greater Sunrise.

The Government's spokeman Agio Pereira said since 2008 the company had bypassed established mechanisms for negotiation, which has resulted in substantial and costly delays to the project. Mr Pereira said Woodside and its shareholders are now paying the price.

A spokeswoman for Woodside said the company was continuing to develop the Sunrise project in accordance with all the rules put in place by the governments of Australia and East Timor.