This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6641329.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ramos-Horta 'wins E Timor poll' | Ramos-Horta 'wins E Timor poll' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nobel prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta is on course to be East Timor's next president, bringing congratulations from Australia and New Zealand. | Nobel prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta is on course to be East Timor's next president, bringing congratulations from Australia and New Zealand. |
| Election officials said Mr Ramos-Horta had won nearly 70% of the vote, but the official result has yet to be declared. | Election officials said Mr Ramos-Horta had won nearly 70% of the vote, but the official result has yet to be declared. |
| His rival, Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres, has reportedly conceded defeat. | |
| Although Mr Ramos-Horta has not yet formally declared victory, he has already made a speech vowing to heal the wounds of the troubled nation. | |
| Australian Prime Minister John Howard was among the first to offer his congratulations to Mr Ramos-Horta, whom he called "a person of great dedication and... a good friend of Australia". | Australian Prime Minister John Howard was among the first to offer his congratulations to Mr Ramos-Horta, whom he called "a person of great dedication and... a good friend of Australia". |
| New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said he hoped to work with Mr Ramos-Horta "in the difficult task of strengthening [East Timor's] young and fragile democracy". | New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said he hoped to work with Mr Ramos-Horta "in the difficult task of strengthening [East Timor's] young and fragile democracy". |
| Mr Ramos-Horta, the current prime minister, is widely seen as more friendly with the West than Mr Guterres, of the ruling Fretilin party, who often takes a more leftist, nationalist line. | Mr Ramos-Horta, the current prime minister, is widely seen as more friendly with the West than Mr Guterres, of the ruling Fretilin party, who often takes a more leftist, nationalist line. |
| Hard work ahead | Hard work ahead |
| The election commission said on Friday that, with all the ballots counted, Mr Ramos-Horta had taken 69% of the vote and Mr Guterres 31%. | The election commission said on Friday that, with all the ballots counted, Mr Ramos-Horta had taken 69% of the vote and Mr Guterres 31%. |
| JOSE RAMOS-HORTA Founder of East Timor's independence movementSpent 24 years in exile after Indonesia invadedWon Nobel Peace Prize in 1996Former journalist, fluent in five languages class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/378959.stm">Jose Ramos-Horta: Profile The final result is expected to be officially released later after it has been given court approval, a commission spokeswoman said. | |
| Mr Ramos-Horta said the result was not a cause of celebration, but the start of five years of hard work ahead. | Mr Ramos-Horta said the result was not a cause of celebration, but the start of five years of hard work ahead. |
| "I will honour what I told the people in the campaign: I will work for the poor, with the entire country, to unite it, and heal its wounds," he said. | "I will honour what I told the people in the campaign: I will work for the poor, with the entire country, to unite it, and heal its wounds," he said. |
| The result is a blow to the left-wing Fretilin party, which has been a major force in East Timor politics. | The result is a blow to the left-wing Fretilin party, which has been a major force in East Timor politics. |
| The AFP news agency reported that Mr Guterres had conceded defeat. | The AFP news agency reported that Mr Guterres had conceded defeat. |
| Earlier, he told the agency that he would accept the result, and prepare for next month's important parliamentary polls. | Earlier, he told the agency that he would accept the result, and prepare for next month's important parliamentary polls. |
| "For me, winning or losing is a normal thing. For me personally, as Lu-Olo, it is alright [if I lose]," he said. | "For me, winning or losing is a normal thing. For me personally, as Lu-Olo, it is alright [if I lose]," he said. |
| Observers hailed Wednesday's run-off as peaceful and free of intimidation - in contrast to the first round, which was marred by irregularities and fighting between rival supporters. | Observers hailed Wednesday's run-off as peaceful and free of intimidation - in contrast to the first round, which was marred by irregularities and fighting between rival supporters. |
| This has raised hopes that the vote may prove to be a turning point for the impoverished and violence-wracked nation. | This has raised hopes that the vote may prove to be a turning point for the impoverished and violence-wracked nation. |
| The outgoing president Xanana Gusmao - who has led the nation since it won independence five years ago, after breaking free from decades of Indonesian rule in 1999 - plans to run for the more powerful position of prime minister in June's elections. | The outgoing president Xanana Gusmao - who has led the nation since it won independence five years ago, after breaking free from decades of Indonesian rule in 1999 - plans to run for the more powerful position of prime minister in June's elections. |