UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told Indonesia Friday to immediately agree to to the deployment of an international force to restore peace in East Timor or face charges of crimes against humanity.

“The time clearly has come for Indonesia to seek the help of the international community in fulfilling its responsibility to bring order and security to the people of East Timor,” Annan said.

If Indonesia refuses to allow international troops into East Timor, Annan warned, “it cannot escape responsibility for what could amount, according to reports reaching us, to crimes against humanity.”

Annan said that, although the United Nations did not intend to abandon East Timor, the level of violence since the Aug. 30 self- determination ballot was more than the UN Assistance Mission to East Timor (UNAMET) could handle.

Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines, among other nations, had assured him that they would participate in a force for East Timor, he said..

Annan added that he thought it was premature to create a UN tribunal to try suspects for crimes against humanity at this stage, although he pointedly left the door open to doing so in the future if Jakarta failed to halt the violence.

The secretary-general’s statement was the clearest sign yet that UN officials, after days of fruitless efforts to persuade Indonesia to clamp down on the violence in East Timor, had decided to ratchet up the diplomatic pressure on Jakarta.

A five-member UN Security Council team, led by Namibian Ambassador Martin Andjaba, continued negotiations with Indonesian officials on sending an international force to East Timor. But so far, it had failed to win acceptance either by Indonesian President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie or Army chief Gen. Wiranto for the deployment.

Still, after days of diplomatic haggling, the United Nations has made headway in acquiring support for the peacekeeping force. The United States has thrown its weight behind the force and other Indonesian allies, including China, now said they were willing to consider it.

Chinese Ambassador Shen Guofang said China was “open-minded” about deploying foreign troops in East Timor, but he reiterated Beijing’s concern that “we should get the consent of the Indonesian government.”

Yet the United Nations has been emboldened by the shift in the US posture, after several days in which US officials pressed for more time for Indonesia to demonstrate whether it could stop the killings by pro-Indonesia militias and their military allies.

US President Bill Clinton set the tone Thursday when he said that “if Indonesia does not end the violence, it must invite the international community to aid in restoring security.”

Annan asserted that Jakarta clearly had failed to provide security for East Timor following the self-determination ballot, in which nearly 80 percent of voters opted for independence from Indonesia’s nearly 24-year occupation.

“East Timor is descending into anarchy,” Annan argued. “The anti-independence militias, who were overwhelmingly defeated at the ballot box, have engaged in an orgy of looting, burning and killing.”

UN officials confirmed that pro-Indonesia militias shot at the UN compound in Dili on Thursday night, and that Indonesian troops did nothing to prevent the attack.

According to the officials, the militias threatened to invade the compound, and fired shots in the air while Indonesian forces stood by.

All but some 50 UN personnel already have left East Timor, leading to charges that the United Nations was abandoning the Timorese to the violence by the militias and their Indonesian military allies.

Annan conceded that Indonesia had failed to abide by its commitments, in a May 5 peace agreement with Portugal, to maintain security in East Timor.

But he denied that the United Nations was aware that the current level of massacres could occur, saying that he was “shocked” by what has happened.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told Indonesia Friday to immediately agree to to the deployment of an international force to restore peace in East Timor or face charges of crimes against humanity.

“The time clearly has come for Indonesia to seek the help of the international community in fulfilling its responsibility to bring order and security to the people of East Timor,” Annan said.

If Indonesia refuses to allow international troops into East Timor, Annan warned, “it cannot escape responsibility for what could amount, according to reports reaching us, to crimes against humanity.”

Annan said that, although the United Nations did not intend to abandon East Timor, the level of violence since the Aug. 30 self- determination ballot was more than the UN Assistance Mission to East Timor (UNAMET) could handle.

Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines, among other nations, had assured him that they would participate in a force for East Timor, he said..

Annan added that he thought it was premature to create a UN tribunal to try suspects for crimes against humanity at this stage, although he pointedly left the door open to doing so in the future if Jakarta failed to halt the violence.

The secretary-general’s statement was the clearest sign yet that UN officials, after days of fruitless efforts to persuade Indonesia to clamp down on the violence in East Timor, had decided to ratchet up the diplomatic pressure on Jakarta.

A five-member UN Security Council team, led by Namibian Ambassador Martin Andjaba, continued negotiations with Indonesian officials on sending an international force to East Timor. But so far, it had failed to win acceptance either by Indonesian President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie or Army chief Gen. Wiranto for the deployment.

Still, after days of diplomatic haggling, the United Nations has made headway in acquiring support for the peacekeeping force. The United States has thrown its weight behind the force and other Indonesian allies, including China, now said they were willing to consider it.

Chinese Ambassador Shen Guofang said China was “open-minded” about deploying foreign troops in East Timor, but he reiterated Beijing’s concern that “we should get the consent of the Indonesian government.”

Yet the United Nations has been emboldened by the shift in the US posture, after several days in which US officials pressed for more time for Indonesia to demonstrate whether it could stop the killings by pro-Indonesia militias and their military allies.

US President Bill Clinton set the tone Thursday when he said that “if Indonesia does not end the violence, it must invite the international community to aid in restoring security.”

Annan asserted that Jakarta clearly had failed to provide security for East Timor following the self-determination ballot, in which nearly 80 percent of voters opted for independence from Indonesia’s nearly 24-year occupation.

“East Timor is descending into anarchy,” Annan argued. “The anti-independence militias, who were overwhelmingly defeated at the ballot box, have engaged in an orgy of looting, burning and killing.”

UN officials confirmed that pro-Indonesia militias shot at the UN compound in Dili on Thursday night, and that Indonesian troops did nothing to prevent the attack.

According to the officials, the militias threatened to invade the compound, and fired shots in the air while Indonesian forces stood by.

All but some 50 UN personnel already have left East Timor, leading to charges that the United Nations was abandoning the Timorese to the violence by the militias and their Indonesian military allies.

Annan conceded that Indonesia had failed to abide by its commitments, in a May 5 peace agreement with Portugal, to maintain security in East Timor.

But he denied that the United Nations was aware that the current level of massacres could occur, saying that he was “shocked” by what has happened.