East Timor president to announce interim government

East Timor's president Xanana Gusmao is expected to announce a transitional government to replace the administration of Mari Alkatiri, who resigned as prime minister earlier this week.

The president began meeting with his advisory Council of State yesterday, trying to balance the rights of the ruling Fretilin Party, which was elected with an overwhelming majority, against his belief that the current Fretilin leadership is illegitimate.

The last leadership ballot was illegal because it was not a secret ballot.

Nevertheless his close supporter, former foreign minister Jose Ramos Horta, says a compromise can be found.

"The president is trying to navigate through this political complexity and find consensus to form a government in the next few days," he said.

The interim government will run the country until elections early next year.

Meanwhile, ousted East Timorese prime minister, Mari Alkatitri, has been summoned to appear in court on Friday over the illegal distribution of weapons.

Former interior minister Rogerio Lobato has already appeared in court on four charges alleging he authorised the transfer of weapons from a border control unit to a group of civilians with instructions that they eliminate opponents of the prime minister.

Mr Alkatiri has repeatedly denied any knowledge or involvement in the plan.

Documents produced in recent weeks suggest he did at least know the weapons were being distributed.

Mr Alkatiri resigned as the country's prime minister on Monday, leaving President Xanana Gusmao to oversee the appointment of a new leader for the troubled country.

The resignation follows nearly two month of violence across the country.

The crisis began after Mr Alkatiri sacked about 600 soldiers who had complained of discrimination, triggering infighting among the security forces that spiralled into gang warfare.

An Australian army spokesman says Australian-led foreign forces in East Timor will not stop supporters of former prime minister Mari Alkatiri from coming into that capital, Dili, to protest - as long as they come in unarmed.

A large group of Mr Alkatiri's supporters tried to enter the capital yesterday, but agreed to go home after being searched by foreign troops.

Hundreds of troops and dozens of personnel carriers have been deployed on the capital's eastern outskirts.

But army spokeman, Major James Baker, says protesters would have been allowed in if they had agreed to be searched for weapons and had pledged to be peaceful.

The protesters dispersed after Mr Alkatiri himself addressed the group and told them not to continue on but to go and prepare for new elections next year.

A team of United Nations experts has arrived in East Timor to assess how the world body can provide support to the country.

The leader of the 20-member United Nations group Ian Martin, says he will make recommendations to the Secretary-General for a new UN mission.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA