Supported of ousted East Timor premier march on capital

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.

A first batch of about 300 protesters arrived in cars and were escorted by foreign peacekeepers in helicopters and armoured vehicles. They had all been searched for weapons at a roadblock away from the town.

Hundreds of other others vehicles carrying members of Mari Alkatiri’s ruling Fretilin party were visible on a road leading to Dili, but the convoy was moving very slowly and it was under heavy guard.

“We want to prove to the world that Fretilin has the majority and to demand that President Xanana Gusmao respect the constitution in resolving this crisis,” said Filomeno Aleixo, one of the organisers of the rally.