President urges calm as rebels prepare to talk peace

Independence hero and former guerrilla fighter President Xanana Gusmao today urged warring factions to end violence ripping through East Timor’s capital, while ex-soldiers whose rebellion triggered the broad mayhem offered peace talks.

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.