UN Council Oks Transitional Administration in East Timor 　　The United Nations Security Council on October 25 authorized the establishment of a United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). 　　In its resolution unanimously adopted, the Council said UNTAET will be empowered to exercise all legislative and executive authority, including the administration of justice. 　　The UNTAET is mandated to provide security and maintain law and order throughout the territory and to establish an effective administration. 　　It will assist in the development of civil and social services of the territory and will ensure the coordination and delivery of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development assistance from the international community. 　　One component of the UNTAET will be some 9,000 troops and a 1,640 member police unit. 　　The troops will replace the multinational peace-keeping force which began to be deployed in East Timor on September 20 with a maximum capacity of 7,500 from Australia and other countries. 　　The Council gave the UNTAET an initial mandate until January 31, 2001. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said earlier that it may stay in East Timor for two to three years. 　　The cost of the UNTAET is estimated at 700 million to 1 billion US dollars for the initial period, according to UN Under-Secretary-General Bernard Miyet who is in charge of UN peace-keeping operations worldwide. 　　The Council welcomed the decision of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly on October 19 to nullify the 1978 decree on the integration of East Timor into Indonesia. 　　East Timor, a Portuguese colony until 1975, was occupied by Indonesia in 1976 after Portugal's withdrawal. 　　The UN has since called East Timor a non-self-governing territory. Under its auspices, Portugal and Indonesia agreed on May 5 this year for a UN-sponsored referendum in the territory. 　　The August 30 referendum turned to be in favor for independence but the outcome sparked a fierce reaction from the minority of the locals who favor autonomy under Indonesia. 　　Violence and Anarchy led to the Security Council's decision to dispatch the multi-national force for the restoration of peace and security for a total of 800,000 East Timorese. (Xinhua) WorldNews 1999-10-27 Page6 Full Story in Chinese