A former Australian army soldier believed to have trained with the terrorist network al-Qaida served on a peacekeeping mission to East Timor, Australia's defense chief said Friday. Defence Minister Robert Hill and Attorney General Daryl Williams issued a joint statement Thursday saying the man, aged 25, previously served with the army. Hill later told reporters he left the service because he was suffering from depression. His name wasn't released. On Friday, Army Chief General Peter Cosgrove confirmed the man had served in East Timor, where Australia has had peacekeeping troops since the fledgling nation voted for independence in 1999.

"He served in East Timor and I'm hoping now that the suggestion that I've heard that somehow he was affected by that, I'm hoping that's not the case and if it is ... my heart goes out to his parents," Cosgrove said.
Cosgrove said he was sad to learn an Australian soldier had defected to terrorist ranks. He said the army would help the government with any information on the man's previous background. Bureau Report