East Timor swears in new president

E Timor's new president sworn in
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6673717.stm

Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta has been sworn in East Timor's new president.

Taking the oath of office in the capital, Dili, Mr Ramos-Horta vowed to work for national unity and stability.

Mr Ramos-Horta won the May run-off vote with almost 70% of the vote, beating parliament head Francisco Guterres.

He replaces Xanana Gusmao, who is to contest elections next month for the more powerful post of prime minister - the role vacated by Mr Ramos-Horta.

Many in East Timor hope Mr Ramos-Horta's victory in relatively peaceful polls will bring stability to a nation struggling with severe poverty and still recovering from last year's violent clashes.

'End the crisis'

Representatives from around the region gathered at parliament house for the official ceremony, which coincided with the fifth anniversary of East Timor's formal independence.


East Timor broke away from 25 years of Indonesian rule in a 1999 referendum, before being run under UN protection until May 2002.

Speaking after he was sworn in, Mr Ramos-Horta promised to find "the way to end the crisis of the country", and to tackle differences between the police and armed forces.

In May and June 2006 tensions between the two sides triggered weeks of street clashes that left more than 30 people dead and tens of thousands homeless.

Mr Ramos-Horta also appealed to young people to end a culture of clashes between street gangs.

"With vengeance and violence, we will not win over anything," he said. "With conscience in our hearts and our minds, with books and computers, we can win."

Mr Ramos-Horta has previously served as foreign minister. He spent years in exile leading the country's campaign for independence from Indonesia, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.