By Crispin Thorold
BBC News, New York
The UN secretary-general has said he believes that UN peacekeeping forces will have to return to East Timor, just a year after they were withdrawn.
Kofi Annan told a meeting of the Security Council in New York that he was "deeply concerned" about the situation in the country.
At least 20 people have died over the last month after clashes between rival groups of the security forces.
International peacekeepers led by Australia are patrolling the capital.
Mr Annan also announced that the UN would hold an independent inquiry into the violence, including an incident on 25 May in which 10 policemen were killed.
Australian presence
East Timor was heralded as a great success for the UN - a model of nation building.
But after the violence of recent weeks the prospects for Asia's youngest nation do not look good.
Soldiers from four countries led by Australia are patrolling Dili, after being sent there at the end of May.
The UN chief said that he expected the Australians to remain in East Timor in the medium term - before possibly handing over to the UN.
"It is obvious that the UN will have to go back in a much larger form than we are at the moment," he said.
"And we will need to send an assessment mission on the ground to determine exactly what needs to be done."
The deployment of any UN peacekeepers in East Timor would require approval by the Security Council.
(BBC)
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