Alkatiri faces questioning over hit squad allegations

East Timor's former Prime Minister is to be questioned over allegations he helped to form a secretly armed hit squad to silence his opponents.

Mari Alkatiri resigned on Monday, succumbing to weeks of pressure and sparking jubilation across the tiny impoverished nation.

A spokesman for Mr Alkatiri said the former Prime Minister would leave Dili today to ask "thousands" of his supporters not to enter the capital to protest against his downfall.

Life in Dili appeared to be returning to normal yesterday, with no signs of pro- or anti-Alkatiri protesters.

East Timor's Prosecutor-General, Longuinhos Monteiro, said Mr Alkatiri had been "summoned to appear in the Prosecutor's Office for interrogation" on Friday.

Mr Alkatiri has denied the hit squad accusations and East Timor's Prosecutor-General has previously said that he had no evidence of his involvement.