Lisbon - The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, said the jailed East Timorese guerrilla leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao, could be freed this year, newspapers reported. He said that Mr Gusmao's release could come from a possible deal with Portugal.
The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, has invited the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Portugal to a meeting in New York on Sunday and Monday, it was announced.