Polls close in East Timor
Saturday, 30 Jun 2007 12:12
East Timor was granted independence in 2002
Polls have closed in East Timor following a parliamentary election fought against a background of long-term poverty and instability in the fledgling democracy.
A total of 14 parties were up for election in today's poll, but the political contest is essentially seen as a battle between the tiny nation's ruling Fretilin party and a new party created by the country's former president Xanana Gusmao.
Mr Gusmao, a charismatic figure who was previously central to East Timor's struggle for independence from Indonesia, has accused the country's prime minister Mari Alkatiri of overseeing a failing government.
But Mr Alkatiri has stressed that unlike Mr Gusmao's party, the National Congress for the Reconstruction of East Timor (CNRT), his political movement has experience in running the country.
"We have plans, programs and the competence to do this," said East Timor's current premier, casting his ballot.
"They have no capacity," he added in regard to his main opponents, in comments reported by the Associated Press.
Announcing the end of voting UN spokeswoman Allison Cooper told a news conference that polling had gone "smoothly" and stressed that there had been "no major security incidents".
The killing of two of Mr Gusmao's supporters at a rally earlier this month had prompted fears that the election might descend into violence but the later stages of the campaign were largely peaceful.
East Timor's president Jose Ramos-Horta, who was elected earlier this year in two rounds of voting, has already vowed to help improve security in the country – which voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999.
International peacekeepers were called into the predominantly Catholic nation, which has ruled itself since 2002, after fighting broke out between rival police and army forces last year.
The violence killed 37 and forced an estimated 155,000 people from their homes.
No party is expected to secure an overall majority following today's election, with analysts predicting that a coalition government will be formed after the results of the poll are announced – probably sometime early next week.
