The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to extend its administrative and peacekeeping operation in East Timor until the Southeast Asian territory declares independence on May 20.

The Council also decided to cut the U.N. troop contingent from 8,000 to 5,000, and to keep at least 1,200 policemen in East Timor for the remainder of its mandate.

East Timor's foreign minister, Jose Ramos-Horta, asked the Council Thursday for an extension of the U.N. presence. He said pro-Indonesian militias opposed to the territory's independence still have the potential to cause disorder.

The world body has kept peace in East Timor since late 1999, after the territory voted for independence from Indonesia in a referendum.

The United Nations intervened after pro-Indonesian militias angry over the independence vote launched a campaign of terror against East Timor's population. Indonesia invaded and annexed East Timor after the colonial power, Portugal, withdrew from the territory in 1975.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters.

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