EAST TIMOR: East Timor president Xanana Gusmao said yesterday that he would step down if the country's prime minister refused to take responsibility for a weeks-long crisis during which the country has been racked by violence.
He spoke in a broadcast to the nation after a second day of tense meetings failed to bring the resignation of prime minister Mari Alkatiri, blamed by thousands of protesters for the violence in which at least 20 were killed amid widespread looting and arson.
"I ask the responsibility of Mari Alkatiri over this major crisis that we are going through to maintain the government and the state's democracy," Mr Gusmao said. If Mr Alkatiri failed to take responsibility, he said, "tomorrow I will send a letter to the national parliament to inform them that I will resign from the presidency of this republic".
Mr Alkatiri told Portugal's Lusa news agency in a telephone interview that he would not resign. He said the governing body of the Fretilin party he leads, and which dominates parliament, had accepted a proposal that he name one or two deputy prime ministers and give up his post as energy minister.
Shortly before Mr Gusmao spoke, Manuel Fernandes, Fretilin's deputy secretary general, said he expected Mr Gusmao, Mr Alkatiri and parliament's president to meet today to discuss the situation.
East Timor plunged into violence in May after Mr Alkatiri sacked 600 of the 1,400-strong army for mutiny when they protested about alleged discrimination against troops from the country's west. But this was just one of many factors feeding the crisis and the sporadic fighting.
A 2,500-strong international force led by Australian troops now patrols the capital Dili.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Monday that Mr Alkatiri was present when then-interior minister Rogerio Lobato ordered an alleged hit squad linked to Fretilin to eliminate rivals. Mr Lobato is under house arrest.