E Timor president asked prime minister to resign

JAKARTA, June 21 (Reuters) East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has been asked to resign by President Xanana Gusmao, East Timor's ambassador to Indonesia said today.

The request came in a letter sent to Alkatiri yesterday night, Arlindo Marcal told Reuters.

''The letter asked the prime minister to resign because the president does not trust the prime minister any more,'' Marcal said.

''The deadline was actually at 5.00 pm Dili time (1330 hrs IST) but the prime minister wants to consult this with his party first.

We don't know the follow up yet,'' he added.

East Timor was plunged into violence in May after Alkatiri sacked 600 of the 1,400-strong army for mutiny when they protested about alleged discrimination against soldiers from the west of the country.

Since then, rebel troops and thousands of protesters have called for Alkatiri's removal, blaming him for violence that has seen youth gangs fighting, looting and burning buildings in Dili.

At least 20 people have died since the violence began.

A 2,500-strong international peacekeeping force led by Australian troops now patrols Dili.

REUTERS SHR HT1630