A decade after independence and with UN mission coming to an end, East Timor goes to the polls, writes Simon Roughneen

One of East Timor’s deputy prime ministers said he resigned after prime minister Xanana Gusmao publicly called him a “liar” for his outspoken critiques of the government’s failure to tackle corruption and improve people’s lives.

Australia will begin withdrawing 200 troops from nearby East Timor today because security in the restive nation has improved since rebel soldiers wounded the president, the prime minister said.

East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta says he is considering quitting politics after surviving an attempted assassination.

East Timorese president Jose Ramos-Horta has spoken publicly for the first time since an assassination attempt a month ago, to thank the medical staff who saved his life and other supporters.

Ireland’s new Roving Ambassador, Nuala O’Loan, is to travel to south-east Asia, it emerged today.

TO a sea of Albanian and American flags, Prime Minister Hasim Thaci called the republic of Kosovo into being last Sunday week, setting off a diplomatic firestorm, raising Russian- backed Serbian ire and sparking fears that minority ethnic groups from Spain to China would have a new basis for resistance.

Australian troops backed by helicopters today launched a manhunt for suspects in the attacks on East Timor’s top leaders.

Prosecutors in East Timor prepared arrest warrants today for 18 rebel soldiers allegedly involved in assassination attempts against the president and prime minister, while foreign troops boosted security amid fears of more unrest.

Australian troops backed by a warship arrived in East Timor today after rebels shot and seriously wounded the president.

EAST TIMOR President Jose Ramos-Horta was shot and seriously wounded yesterday by rebel soldiers in an assassination attempt that plunged the fledgling nation into a fresh crisis.

The president of East Timor was seriously ill in an Australian hospital today after being shot during a failed coup.

Rebel soldiers shot and badly wounded East Timor's president and opened fire on the prime minister in what was said to be a failed coup in the recently-independent nation.

East Timor president Jose Ramos-Horta was wounded in a pre-dawn attack on his home that killed a guard.

A tsunami warning was issued today after an earthquake of 6.3 on the Richter scale shook East Timor.

Australia’s foreign minister today became the highest-level foreign official to visit East Timor since it installed a new government.

Former resistance fighter Xanana Gusmao was sworn in as East Timor’s prime minister today as violence by supporters of the party shut out of the new government entered a third day.

Troubled East Timor today voted for a new president, choosing between a Nobel Prize winner and an ex-freedom fighter in an election critical to maintaining peace a year after the tiny nation was pushed to the brink of civil war.

East Timor began voting today for a new president, a critical step in Asia’s newest nation following violence and political turmoil last year that took it to the brink of civil war.

Voters in East Timor lined up today to choose a new president, hoping the election would end bitter political rivalries and widespread poverty threatening the future of Asia’s youngest nation.

Hundreds of young men supporting rival political parties clashed in East Timor’s capital today, the final day of campaigning for next week’s presidential elections.

About 40 prisoners escaped from a jail in East Timor today, officials said, adding to security concerns in the tiny nation as it prepares for elections following political turmoil and violence last year.

East Timor’s international airport was closed today after a man was shot dead during clashes between rival gangs.

At least 57 inmates escaped from an East Timor jail today, including a former military police chief and some militiamen who opposed the country’s break from Indonesian rule, the prison warden said.

East Timor’s ruling party will give the country’s president a list of prime ministerial candidates tomorrow – and Nobel prize-winning Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta may be on it, party members said.

A self-proclaimed hit squad leader who says he was contracted to kill political opponents of East Timor’s ousted prime minister Mari Alkatiri today said he would surrender his weapons soon.

Thousands of supporters of East Timor’s ousted prime minister rallied in the capital today amid a massive security lockdown by foreign peacekeepers.

Hundreds of protesters today descended on East Timor’s capital to rally behind the ousted prime minister, triggering fears of more unrest as the president said early elections were the only way out of the country’s crisis.

Gangs hurled rocks at a camp housing refugees and torched buildings in East Timor’s capital today, as fresh violence erupted between supporters and opponents of former prime minister Mari Alkatiri.

East Timor’s leaders were trying to decide on a new prime minister today following the resignation of Mari Alkatiri, raising hopes for an end to months of political paralysis and violence in Asia’s newest nation.

East Timor’s prime minister resigned today, setting off celebrations in the violence-scarred capital and raising hopes for an end to the political crisis gripping the nation.

East Timor’s embattled prime minister announced his resignation today, triggering celebrations in the violence-scarred capital and raising hopes for an end to weeks of political turmoil and unrest.

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.

The commander of rebels in a conflict with East Timor’s government said the insurgents would hand over weapons to international peacekeepers today, after being asked to disarm by President Xanana Gusmao.

Children in families that have flocked to tent camps to escape violence in East Timor’s capital face a high risk of malnutrition and disease, health officials warned today, as they kicked off a mass measles vaccination campaign.

THE European Union signed a €18 million aid deal with East Timor’s government yesterday, pledging to support democracy and economic development in the nation which has been torn by violence in recent weeks.

The UN should help oversee elections in East Timor and stay involved in the violence-scarred nation for at least a decade, the foreign minister said today, noting that restoring order and building a democracy would take time and money.

An East Timor rebel leader today said he was willing to hold talks on ending the troubled country’s wave of violence, but made clear that any solution should not include a role for the current prime minister.

About 2,000 protesters calling for the resignation of East Timor’s prime minister cruised around parliament in a convoy of horn-blaring trucks and motorcycles today, hours after mobs set buildings on fire and looted a warehouse filled with farm supplies.

GANGS continued to attack homes in East Timor’s capital yesterday despite patrols by foreign peacekeepers and a pledge that parliament would meet this week to address the unrest.

A United Nations refugee chief warned today that violence could spill into squalid camps where tens of thousands of East Timorese tried to escape chaos in the capital, as the prime minister blamed former members of pro-Indonesia militias for some attacks.

EAST Timor President Xanana Gusmao made an emotional plea for peace after weeks of violence, as the tiny country’s rebel leader pressed him to oust the unpopular prime minister.