Timor-Leste militants handed over their weapons to Australian peacekeepers in first phase of disarmament, according to official reports Friday.

"East Timor rebels hand weapons to international peacekeepers as a step to ease the crisis in the country," the reports said.

The Timor-Leste militants surrendered more than a dozen weapons to Australian peacekeepers on Friday, it said, adding that it was beginning a disarmament process to easing months of bloody unrest in the island country.

The militants gave up 12 fully automatic rifles and four pistols in a low-key ceremony at a hilltop, century-old Portuguese villa where Reinado set up camp after fleeing the capital, Dili, in April over a conflict with the government, the reports said.

Fighting between the rebels and loyalist soldiers in April and May erupted into widespread street violence which left at least 30 people dead and drove 130,000 from their homes. Foreign peacekeepers were requested by the Timor-Leste government to come to the country in order to quell the unrest.

"The militants agreed to disarm after receiving an official request from President Xanana Gusmao, and the move should create an environment for talks between stakeholders in the conflict," the reports added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2006)