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Violence breaks out in East Timor | Violence breaks out in East Timor |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Violence has broken out in several areas of East Timor, a day after independence hero Xanana Gusmao was named as the new prime minister. | Violence has broken out in several areas of East Timor, a day after independence hero Xanana Gusmao was named as the new prime minister. |
Protesters threw rocks and set fire to buildings, and security forces used tear gas in response. | Protesters threw rocks and set fire to buildings, and security forces used tear gas in response. |
Mr Gusmao was chosen as the new premier to end weeks of deadlock, after no single party won a majority in June's parliamentary elections. | Mr Gusmao was chosen as the new premier to end weeks of deadlock, after no single party won a majority in June's parliamentary elections. |
But his party's main rival, Fretilin, denounced the decision as illegal. | But his party's main rival, Fretilin, denounced the decision as illegal. |
About 100 youths from a predominantly pro-Fretilin refugee camp near the international airport threw rocks at police on Tuesday, according to a reporter for the French news agency AFP. | About 100 youths from a predominantly pro-Fretilin refugee camp near the international airport threw rocks at police on Tuesday, according to a reporter for the French news agency AFP. |
Police then fired tear gas towards the group, who were reportedly yelling "Fretilin! Fretilin!". | Police then fired tear gas towards the group, who were reportedly yelling "Fretilin! Fretilin!". |
Other witnesses report seeing mobs setting fire to government buildings in the eastern districts of Baucau and Viqueque. | Other witnesses report seeing mobs setting fire to government buildings in the eastern districts of Baucau and Viqueque. |
The unrest triggered fears of an end to the fragile peace that has held since mid-2006, when violent feuding between rival army and police units spilled out on to the streets. | The unrest triggered fears of an end to the fragile peace that has held since mid-2006, when violent feuding between rival army and police units spilled out on to the streets. |
More than 30 people were killed and thousands were forced to flee their homes in the 2006 unrest. | More than 30 people were killed and thousands were forced to flee their homes in the 2006 unrest. |
Risk to stability | Risk to stability |
June's election had been seen as a fresh start for the young, impoverished nation, but neither Fretilin nor the CNRT party led by Mr Gusmao - who was East Timor's president until May 2007 - were able to achieve an overall majority. | June's election had been seen as a fresh start for the young, impoverished nation, but neither Fretilin nor the CNRT party led by Mr Gusmao - who was East Timor's president until May 2007 - were able to achieve an overall majority. |
XANANA GUSMAO Former guerrilla leader who led East Timor to independenceSpent six years in Indonesian prisonMade first post-independence presidentStepped down in early 2007 to run for more hands-on role of PM Profile: Xanana Gusmao Weeks of wrangling ensued, but to little effect. | XANANA GUSMAO Former guerrilla leader who led East Timor to independenceSpent six years in Indonesian prisonMade first post-independence presidentStepped down in early 2007 to run for more hands-on role of PM Profile: Xanana Gusmao Weeks of wrangling ensued, but to little effect. |
In the end, President Jose Ramos-Horta used his constitutional right to settle the matter - and he chose in favour of Mr Gusmao. | |
The BBC's Lucy Williamson, in Jakarta, says that although Mr Ramos-Horta's decision risked a violent reaction from Fretilin supporters, he may have decided that allowing the country to stagnate under a minority government would be an even bigger risk to stability. | The BBC's Lucy Williamson, in Jakarta, says that although Mr Ramos-Horta's decision risked a violent reaction from Fretilin supporters, he may have decided that allowing the country to stagnate under a minority government would be an even bigger risk to stability. |
But just hours after Mr Ramos-Horta had made his decision, the head of the Fretilin party, ex-prime minister Mari Alkatiri, was quick to voice his anger. | But just hours after Mr Ramos-Horta had made his decision, the head of the Fretilin party, ex-prime minister Mari Alkatiri, was quick to voice his anger. |
"We regard it as a political and illegal decision," he said. "That is why, the government... will never have the co-operation of Fretilin - because this is an illegal government." | "We regard it as a political and illegal decision," he said. "That is why, the government... will never have the co-operation of Fretilin - because this is an illegal government." |
But Mr Ramos-Horta urged Fretilin supporters not to turn to violence. | But Mr Ramos-Horta urged Fretilin supporters not to turn to violence. |
"Do not think that Fretilin has lost. Fretilin is a very important party at the parliament which will become the best opposition because it has experience and the capacity for that," he told reporters. | "Do not think that Fretilin has lost. Fretilin is a very important party at the parliament which will become the best opposition because it has experience and the capacity for that," he told reporters. |
"I appeal to youths and the public to be calm and give the chance to Brother Xanana to govern," he added. | "I appeal to youths and the public to be calm and give the chance to Brother Xanana to govern," he added. |
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