Timor-Leste's Defense and Foreign Affairs Minister Jose
Ramos-Horta resigned in capital city Dili Sunday, right after the
ruling party Fretilin agreed to keep Mari Alkatiri as prime
minister.
"I decided to resign from the government until a new government
is established. I am ready to serve this nation in whatever
position," Indonesia's Detik Website quoted Horta as saying through
his spokesman Perreira.
Perreira told reporters that Horta has accused Alkatiri and the
reason had been told by Horta himself.
The left-leaning ruling Fretilin party, which met in emergency
session Sunday, said Alkatiri had accepted the unanimous appeal of
its committee not to resign.
Sunday's decisions came amid strong calls from President Xanana
Gusmao and a huge number of citizens that Alkatiri should resign as
he was supposed to be responsible for the months-long riots in the
country.
Alkatiri heads the Fretilin which has an overwhelming majority
in the parliament.
The tiny nation was plunged into violence in May after the prime
minister fired nearly 600 of the country's 1,400 army men for
mutiny when they protested about alleged discrimination against
them.
Since then, the sacked troops and thousands of protesters have
demanded resignation of Alkatiri. The mass and the sacked soldiers
held that Alkatiri should be responsible for the violence that had
seen youth gangs fighting, looting and burning buildings in Dili,
which killed at least 20 people.
The situation had led to the arrival of 2,500 international
peacekeeping forces headed by the Australian troops.
(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2006)
