EAST TIMOR: GUSMAO'S PARTY 'A NEST OF LIARS', SAYS FORMER PM ALKATIRI

Dili, 28 March (AKI) - The political tension is rising in the East Timorese capital, Dili where President Xanana Gusmao has accepted the leadership of a new party that has been labelled as "a nest of liars," by former prime minister, Mari Alkatiri. "We have to be aware of CNRT because CNRT lies to people," Alkatiri told journalists without elaborating, during a visit to a refugee camp on Wednesday.

CNRT stands for 'Conselho Nacional Reconstrucao Timor' or the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, and is the latest party to have joined the political fray in East Timor.

The new party's name is a deliberate reference to the former CNRT - the National Council of Timorese Resistance - a non-partisan body formed by Gusmao in 1998 and which won the vote for independence from Indonesia in the 1999 referendum.

Although Gusmao has accepted the leadership, the president will not assume the new role until a new president is elected in the election slated for April 9.

"I am ready to lead CNRT. I will be leading CNRT to help people to live in a calm and peaceful condition," Gusmao told reporters gathered at Dili's Palacio das Cinzas Caicoli, on Wednesday.

Gusmao's decision is an open challenge to Alkatiri's Fretilin, the biggest party in parliament. The parliamentary election will be held soon after the new president is installed.

Speaking to Adnkronos International (AKI) on the heated political climate, Martinho Gusmao, spokesperson of the National Election Commission (NEC) regretted Alkatiri's latest remark.

"Those leaders who like to insult others during their campaign, show that they have no intellectual quality or capability of leadership," he told AKI.

He added that NEC will pay attention to what is going on and will verify if candidates and representatives who insult each other are violating the code of conduct that was recently signed.

(Fsc/Ner/Aki)

Mar-28-07 11:04