Timor rejects refugee plan

DILI (East Timor) - TIMOR'S parliament voted on Monday to reject an Australian proposal for the tiny, impoverished country to become a regional refugee processing centre for Australian-bound asylum seekers

All 34 lawmakers present for the vote, or a majority of just one in the 66-seat House, agreed to 'firmly reject any plan to set up a refugee detention centre in East Timor', according to a statement

'We urge the government to reject any proposal which conveys an intention to build a refugee processing centre in our national territory,' the declaration said. Need to know more about house name?

'We hope that the government handles this matter as a political issue and takes a firm stance in dealing with our international colleagues, including with the Australian government.' New Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has flagged a plan for East Timor to host a new regional processing facility for migrants who arrive off northern Australia in rickety people-smuggling boats

She has spoken to East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta but the Dili government says it has yet to see a detailed proposal. -- AFP