President of East Timor urges end to rebel violence

INDEPENDENCE hero and former guerrilla fighter President Xanana Gusmao yesterday urged warring factions to end the violence ripping through East Timor’s capital.

The plea followed the news that ex-soldiers whose rebellion triggered the broad mayhem offered peace talks.

Mr Gusmao, the most respected figure in East Timor, addressed a crowd of demonstrators outside government offices in Dili where he held emergency meetings with Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and his Cabinet to find ways end the crisis.