East Timor took a crucial step towards the full independence it has paid such a high price for when thousands voted yesterday in the first democratic elections of its turbulent history.
A total of 16 parties and more than 1,000 candidates contested the election of a constituent assembly after centuries of foreign occupation and the death of a quarter of the population.
The party which spearheaded the fight for independence from Indonesia, Fretilin, is expected to win an overwhelming majority of seats. A total of 425,000 voters were eligible to vote.
The half-island territory - the other half is still Indonesian - has been alive with election campaigning in recent weeks. There was a ban on political activity since last Tuesday.
The 88-member assembly will draw up a constitution to pave the way for the election of a president and ultimate independence.
Yesterday's poll took place on the second anniversary of the UN-run ballot in which East Timorese rejected Indonesian rule. That result led to killing and destruction by pro-Jakarta militias, backed by Indonesian troops.
Thousands turned out early for the ballot yesterday, with some walking up to 15 miles from mountains and hills to cast their vote.
Informal results are not expected until September 5th, with a final declaration two days later. Timor's president-in-waiting, the former guerrilla leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao, voted with his Australian wife in his home village of Manatuto, 25 miles east of the capital Dili.
He said he was very happy that the people of East Timor had the opportunity to begin a new life. He confirmed last week that he will contest next year's presidential election.
More than 200,000 East Timorese were killed in the fighting, and the famine and disease that followed. But Indonesia's rule was never recognised by the mainstream world community or the UN.
Its hold on East Timor began falling apart after soldiers shot dead dozens of mourners at a funeral procession in Dili in 1991.
The army-backed rule of then-President Suharto, who oversaw the invasion of East Timor, collapsed amid political and social chaos in 1998. His successor, Mr B.J. Habibie, offered the territory the choice of autonomy or independence.