 UNOTIL was scheduled to end its mandate in May 2006, and the Security Council had already received the UN Secretary-General's recommendations for the post-UNOTIL period.However, a series of events culminating in a political, humanitarian and security crisis of major dimensions led the Council to prolong UNOTIL's mandate, ultimately to 20 August 2006, and to request new recommendations taking into account the need for a strengthened United Nations presence.Against this background, East Timor urgently requested police and military assistance from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Portugal.