East Timor’s president backed off a threat to resign today, telling thousands of flag-waving supporters he would not abandon them as the country searched for a solution to weeks of political turmoil and bloody street battles.

East Timor’s president was reconsidering his threat to resign, a Roman Catholic bishop said after meeting the popular leader today, as protesters demanding the resignation took to the streets, raising fears of fresh violence.

East Timor’s president gave his beleaguered prime minister a dismal choice today – resign or be fired – saying he no longer had the trust of the people following weeks of bloody street battles in the capital.

East Timor dumped its defense minister today and the government showed signs of further unravelling, as desperate residents scuffled over scarce food in the capital and looters ransacked the prosecutor’s office of vast numbers of files.

HUNDREDS of foreign troops struggled to keep East Timor from tipping into civil war yesterday amid widening violence, including a mob attack that killed six relatives of a government minister and set his house ablaze.

Foreign troops today struggled to stave off civil war in East Timor after soldiers gunned down unarmed police in the capital and a mob torched a house filled with children, as the death toll in four days of violence climbed to 23.

EAST TIMOR’S ousted prime minister failed to appear yesterday for questioning over gunrunning charges that contributed to his downfall, saying he was immune from prosecution.