Quitting politics Timor-style -- via SMS

DILI, June 26 (Reuters) When East Timor's Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta resigned his government posts, he did so via a mobile phone text message.

Ramos-Horta told a news briefing that he had sent an SMS to Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri announcing his intention to quit yesterday, and received a reply in the same format from the premier.

''I explained myself in a subsequent text message,'' he said.

The country has been embroiled for months in a political crisis and text messaging has emerged as the fastest and most reliable means of communication.

Thousands of protesters clamouring for Alkatiri's resignation have been mobilising themselves via SMS, and news of him stepping down today spread rapidly through text messages.

Reuters SI DB1221