East Timor president 'considering resignation'

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.

President Xanana Gusmao, a former guerrilla chief revered for his role in helping East Timor achieve independence from Indonesia, yesterday demanded that prime minister Mari Alkatiri step down following weeks of deadly street battles in the capital.

Alkatiri refused, after receiving backing from his ruling Fretilin party, angering an already frustrated Gusmao who responded by threatening to resign.

A flurry of guests visited the president in his office today, including Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva, foreign minister Jose Ramos-Horta, UN special representative Sukehiro Hasegawa and elected representatives from the tiny country’s 13 districts.

“The president has agreed to rethink his resignation,” da Silva, whose church has great influence in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country of 800,000 people, told reporters after his meeting.

Spokesmen for Gusmao and Alkatiri could not immediately be reached to comment on what seemed to be turning into a lingering political stalemate.

Many East Timorese say Alkatiri’s decision to fire 600 disgruntled soldiers in March was to blame for street battles and gang warfare that left at least 30 people dead and sent nearly 150,000 people fleeing from their homes.

The violence was the worst to hit the tiny Asian nation since it voted for independence seven years ago, but ebbed with the arrival of a 2,700-member Australian-led peacekeeping force several weeks ago.

With the country’s leaders pitting themselves against one another, tensions have flared anew in recent days.

Politician Manuel Tilman insisted Alkatiri would be forced to step aside within days and said Gusmao would not resign, noting that he won 82 per cent of the electoral vote.

“He has the legitimacy from the people,” said Tilman, a Gusmao supporter.

Thousands of protesters arrived in Dili throughout the night in flatbed trucks, buses and vans – some chanting “Step down Alkatari!”

Peacekeepers searched all traffic coming into the capital from outside districts for weapons, and kept a watchful eye on the demonstrators. But some people still feared that the large gathering could become volatile.

“I’m afraid it could become violent; more shooting and burning of houses,” said protest organiser Augusto Junior Tridade. “With Gusmao going to resign, it’s a very, very difficult situation now.”

Duelling political factions have sought to capitalise on the recent wave of unrest in East Timor, and some have been accused of trying to stir more bloodshed for political gain.

The prime minister’s critics allege he formed and armed a hit squad to silence opponents, a claim he vehemently denies.

However, the arrest yesterday of former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato on charges of providing weapons to the self-proclaimed leader of a hit squad allegedly commissioned by Alkatiri added credibility to the claim.

Lobato was charged with attempted revolution, conspiracy, providing state weapons to civilians, and association with criminals. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.