E Timor president threatens to resign tomorrow

DILI, June 22 (Reuters) East Timor President Xanana Gusmao today said he would resign the next day if the country's prime minister refuses to take responsibility for a crisis in which the country has been racked by violence for weeks.

His statement was broadcast to the country after a second day of political 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 and there was widespread looting and arson.

Reutes PR GC1648