East Timor prime minister likely to resign - envoy

JAKARTA, June 22: East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri is likely to resign, the country's ambassador to Indonesia said oday following weeks of violence which thousands of protesters have blamed on the beleaguered leader.

''The tendency towards that is very strong,'' Arlindo Marcal told Reuters when asked about the likelihood Alkatiri would step down.

''We just wait for the decision today, whatever the decision may be, it will come today because the council of state had met and during that meeting the president had asked the prime minister to resign or be dismissed.'' Officials are set to resume meetings to discuss President Xanana Gusmao's demand for Alkatiri's resignation after talks at the presidential office yesterday ended inconclusively.

Alkatiri heads the Fretilin party that has an overwhelming majority in parliament, which had so far resisted suggestions Alkatiri should step down.

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.

Australian Broadcasting Corp.'s ''Four Corners'' television news programme reported on Monday that Alkatiri was present when then-Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato ordered an alleged hit squad linked to the ruling Fretilin party to eliminate rivals.

Lobato has since resigned and is under house arrest.

Alkatiri has previously denied the hit squad reports.

East Timor was a Portuguese colony for hundreds of years before a few days of independence in 1975 were followed by an Indonesian invasion, and then annexation by Jakarta in 1976.

Indonesia was criticised by human rights groups for a brutal rule responsible for anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 deaths, charges Jakarta denies.

After an overwhelming vote for independence in 1999, marked by violence blamed largely on pro-Jakarta militia with ties to the Indonesian military, an international peacekeeping force came into the territory and there was a transition period of UN administration.

East Timor became a full-fledged nation in 2002.

Reuters