SYDNEY, Nov. 15 Kyodo Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue will head a cast of entertainers in a special Christmas concert for Australian troops serving in East Timor, the Australian government said Monday.

Australian Veterans' Affairs Minister Bruce Scott said the concert will be held Dec. 21 in Dili at a venue yet to be confirmed.

The concert is aimed at boosting morale among the 9,800-strong Australian-led international force for East Timor (Interfet), which has built up gradually since its initial deployment Sept. 20 to the devastated territory.

"It is important to ensure that our troops in East Timor have as much support as possible during the Christmas period to take account of the fact that they are performing a demanding service away from their families," Scott said.

The Australian Defense Force will provide transport, support staff and equipment needed to stage the concert with some assistance from corporate sponsors, he said.

Interfet was deployed to the troubled territory after pro-Indonesia militias went on a rampage of killing, burning and looting following a historic U.N.-organized referendum held Aug. 30 A U.N. peacekeeping operation is expected to take over from the present Australian-led multinational force early next year.

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