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| Timor-Leste FM Resigns, PM Stays |
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Timor-Leste's Defense and Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Ramos-Horta resigned in capital city Dili Sunday, right after the ruling party Fretilin agreed to keep Mari Alkatiri as prime minister. "I decided to resign from the government until a new government is established. I am ready to serve this nation in whatever position," Indonesia's Detik Website quoted Horta as saying through his spokesman Perreira. Perreira told reporters that Horta has accused Alkatiri and the reason had been told by Horta himself. The left-leaning ruling Fretilin party, which met in emergency session Sunday, said Alkatiri had accepted the unanimous appeal of its committee not to resign. Sunday's decisions came amid strong calls from President Xanana Gusmao and a huge number of citizens that Alkatiri should resign as he was supposed to be responsible for the months-long riots in the country. Alkatiri heads the Fretilin which has an overwhelming majority in the parliament. The tiny nation was plunged into violence in May after the prime minister fired nearly 600 of the country's 1,400 army men for mutiny when they protested about alleged discrimination against them. Since then, the sacked troops and thousands of protesters have demanded resignation of Alkatiri. The mass and the sacked soldiers held that Alkatiri should be responsible for the violence that had seen youth gangs fighting, looting and burning buildings in Dili, which killed at least 20 people. The situation had led to the arrival of 2,500 international peacekeeping forces headed by the Australian troops. (Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2006) |
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