East Timor: José Ramos-Horta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize a decade ago for his effort to win East Timor's independence, was named prime minister of the tiny nation on Saturday as it tries to overcome months of internal strife.
Mr Ramos-Horta replaces former prime minister Mari Alkatiri, who stepped down June 26th after months of violence that claimed at least 30 lives and prompted 150,000 people - 15 per cent of the country's population - to flee their homes and take refuge in makeshift camps.
Mr Alkatiri had been accused of encouraging factional fighting between residents from the eastern and western parts of the country in an attempt to hold on to power. East Timor authorities are investigating whether he authorised the arming of civilian hit squads to silence his political opponents.
The appointment of Mr Ramos-Horta (56) was announced by President José Alexandre Gusmao, who is immensely popular as the former leader of the guerrilla resistance against Indonesian rule but who has limited power under the country's constitution. Mr Gusmao said he hoped the appointment of Mr Ramos-Horta would help "bring about the process of healing and bring peace and stability to the people of East Timor".
East Timor won independence from Indonesia in 1999 but only after pro-Indonesian militia groups killed more than 1,000 people and destroyed 70 per cent of the country's buildings. The United Nations helped rebuild East Timor, which officially became a nation in 2002, but it withdrew its peacekeepers last year in a move that UN officials now recognise was premature.
Violence erupted in April after Mr Alkatiri fired 600 soldiers, or nearly half the army, for protesting that they faced discrimination because they came from the western part of the country. Mr Alkatiri called in loyal troops to quell the protests and they opened fire on civilians, killing at least six people. The country disintegrated further as police and army began fighting each other, then fled the capital, Dili, leaving the city in the hands of arsonists and street gangs.
A 2,700-member international peacekeeping force led by Australia arrived on May 25th and has largely succeeded in restoring order.
Mr Ramos-Horta held the posts of foreign minister and defence minister until he quit last month in protest over Mr Alkatiri's refusal to step down. Mr Alkatiri's resignation came the next day.