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ETimor deadlock days away from resolution: president
Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 10-Jul-2007 23:29 hrs
A deadlock over who will form East Timor's next government is still days away from resolution, the president Jose Ramos-Horta, seen here in June 2007, said in a televised speech Tuesday.
 
 
A deadlock over who will form East Timor's next government is still days away from resolution, the president said in a televised speech Tuesday.
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The ruling Fretilin party won 21 seats in the tiny nation's 65-seat parliament in June 30 elections, well short of the majority required to govern.
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Trailing in second place was a new movement set up by independence hero Xanana Gusmao that has allied with smaller parties and proposed to form a coalition government with 37 seats in parliament.
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Fretilin has objected, saying it should have the right to rule, and the constitution is unclear on the matter.
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The final decision now rests with President Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel peace laureate.
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"The president's job is to find the best way to guarantee peace and stability in this country," Ramos-Horta said in his address.
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"The president should not accept an option that I see is not good, or will fail in one or two months," he said, adding that he would talk with all party leaders to arrive at the best decision for the nation possible.
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"I see many of the political parties are being more cool-headed, so I will give a few days more so we can patiently reach the best decision for this country by respecting the constitution, respecting the people's demands, and interpreting the people's demands through this election."
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He again hinted at his preference for a national unity government, saying that "we should unite with humility to gain a good government for this country."
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Fretilin indicated on Monday that it may consider such a government, but Gusmao's coalition has baulked at the idea so far.
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The elections followed ongoing violence and political tension since bloodshed on the streets of the capital, Dili, in April and May last year.
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The unrest left 37 people dead and forced 150,000 into camps. International peacekeepers were deployed to restore calm and along with some 1,700 UN police are still providing security in the half-island nation.
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East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, gained independence in 2002 after a bloody separation from occupying Indonesia three years earlier. — AFP

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