The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the U.N. mission in East Timor for a final six months, and expressed concern at the country's failure to punish those responsible for 1999 violence that killed 1,500 people. In extending the mission's mandate to May 20, 2005, the council acknowledged that East Timor has not reached a «critical threshold of self-sufficiency.» East Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999. . The United Nations administered the territory for 2½ years, then handed it to the Timorese on May 20, 2002. The country has about 1 million people. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is studying several proposals on fixing the Serious Crimes Process, East Timor's judicial tribunal which was set up to bring to justice those responsible for the violence. The resolution adopted Tuesday said the council was concerned about the need «to fight against impunity» and urged nations to keep giving «indispensable assistance.»
