E Timor leader not taking UN job

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East Timor's president says he will not go for the top UN human rights post because he fears his departure could bring "unpredictable consequences".

Nobel Peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta said he had decided to complete his five-year term, which ends in 2012.

The 58-year-old said he feared snap polls sparked by his departure could disturb East Timor's fragile peace.

The nation of 1m people has been riven by violence since winning independence from Indonesia six years ago.

On Thursday, Mr Ramos-Horta announced he was mulling whether to take over from outgoing Canadian Louise Arbour as UN human rights commissioner.

Mr Ramos-Horta was seriously injured in an attack by rebel troops in February.