East Timor names Nobel Prize winner as PM

Nobel Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta became East Timor’s new prime minister today, the president said, announcing the formation of a new government following months of violence and political instability.

The tiny nation has been left without a functioning government since Mari Alkatiri resigned as prime minister last month amid allegations he formed a hit squad to kill his political opponents.

Many in East Timor blame Alkatiri’s dismissal of 600 soldiers – nearly half the country’s armed forces – for May street battles that erupted in the capital between police and army units and later spilled into gang warfare, looting and arson.

At least 30 people were killed and 150,000 others forced from their homes.

“Today I officially announce the new government of East Timor,” President Xanana Gusmao told reporters after holding emergency talks with Alkatiri’s ruling Fretilin party. “The prime minister is Dr Jose Ramos-Horta.”

He said he hoped the move would help “bring about the process of healing and bring peace and stability to the people of East Timor.” The first and most important task, he said, was getting tens of thousands of people out of refugee camps and into their homes.

The recent violence, which eased with the arrival of a 2,700-strong foreign peace keeping mission six weeks ago, was the worst to hit the country since it voted for independence from 24 years of Indonesian rule in 1999.

Analysts said efforts to usher in political stability ahead of next year’s elections hinged on finding a prime minister who was acceptable to both Gusmao and Fretilin, two sides that are often at odds.