GOF'S SIXTH TEAM COMMENDED BY TIMOR LESTE PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The General Action Force's (GOF) sixth peacekeeping team to Timor Leste has been highly commended by the country's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao for the excellent service its members provided while they were on duty there.

The Royal Malaysia Police's Internal Security and Public Order deputy director I Datuk Abdul Rahman Hussin said the Prime Minister and the Timor Leste goverment issued letters of appreciation to the team and a medal for each of its members for the excellent service provided.

The sixth team was the second of the Malaysian police peacekeeping teams to Timor Leste to be accorded such recognition.

The team also received appreciation medals from the United Nations, Abdul Rahman told reporters after attending a ceremony to welcome home the team here, today.

The 136-strong team, from the GOF's central brigade, among others was assigned to provide security at the Prime Minister's residence and government buildings in Dili, the capital city and as well as monitor security during the country's 2007 presidential election.

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POLICE-APPRECIATION 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

It also participated in community work.

The team's commander DSP Mohd Abduh Ismail said the toughest task they faced

was when escorting 23 suspects involved in the attemped murder of the country's previous president Jose Ramos-Horta from prison to court and back.

Ramos-Horta was critically injured in the incident which happened on Feb 11, 2008.

"Twenty-three of our members were assigned for the task," Mohd Abduh told reporters.

The sixth team was replaced by a seventh, which left for Timor Leste last month. Each peacekeeping tour lasts around six months.

The country plunged into a crisis following a mutiny by a section of its military in 2006.

-- BERNAMA

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