LIEUTENANT-GENERAL KHAIRUDDIN MAT YUSOF APPOINTED FORCE COMMANDER OF UNITED NATIONS MISSION OF SUPPORT IN EAST TIMOR

Biographical Note

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL KHAIRUDDIN MAT YUSOF APPOINTED FORCE COMMANDER

OF UNITED NATIONS MISSION OF SUPPORT IN EAST TIMOR

Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today the appointment of Lieutenant-General Khairuddin Mat Yusof of Malaysia as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) with effect from 31 August 2003.  He will succeed Major-General Huck Gim Tan, who has served as Force Commander since 31 August 2002.  The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to pay tribute to General Tan for his professional and effective leadership of the military component of UNMISET during the last year.

Lieutenant-General Yusof has served in Malaysian Armed Forces for over 30 years.  He had held a number of senior appointments, and is presently the Army Field Commander.  From 1998 to 2001, he served as General Officer Commanding the Second Infantry Division.

He has previous United Nations peacekeeping experience as the Assistant Military Adviser at the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, New York (1991 to 1993).

* *** *