Dili (redirected from Díli)

Dili (dē`lē), city (2002 est. pop. 49,900), capital of East Timor. on the N coast of Timor, on Ombai Strait. Dili is the largest city and chief port and commercial center of East Timor. Soap, perfume, and pottery are produced, and coffee is processed. In World War II, Dili was occupied by the Japanese from Feb., 1942, until end of the war. Much of the city was destroyed in the violence following the 1999 vote for East Timorese independence. The Univ. of East Timor is there.

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Dili

City (pop., 2004 est.: city, 51,700; urban area, 151,026), capital of East Timor. It lies on the northern coast of Timor Island on Ombai Strait. Dili has been the capital, chief port, and commercial centre of the eastern half of Timor since it was settled by the Portuguese about 1520. During World War II it was occupied by Japan. East Timor was under Portuguese rule until 1975, after which it was designated a province of Indonesia. Dili suffered major damage by Indonesian military “militias” after East Timor voted for independence in 1999. The city became the capital of newly sovereign East Timor in 2002.