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DILI - International election observers today praised East Timor's weekend parliamentary elections as free and fair, as the ruling party Fretilin took a small lead on early, rough figures.
Fretilin has dominated East Timor politics since independence, but is facing a strong challenge from the CNRT, a new party formed by former president and pro-independence hero Xanana Gusmao.
Official figures put Fretilin ahead with about 31.7 per cent of the early vote, but the count does not include any ballots from the biggest district Dili because of a delay in tabulation.
CNRT was in second place with 23.1 per cent followed by the ASDT
SD coalition with 15.4 per cent, with about 15 per cent of votes counted.
Analysts say none of the 14 political groupings contesting the poll is likely to win an absolute majority, and the make-up of the new government will depend on which parties agree to form a coalition.
It came as the biggest foreign observer mission, the European Union, hailed the poll as generally free and fair.
"Timorese people have chosen for the first time their parliament members from a plural range of party options," the EU observer mission said.
"This represents a great step forward in the consolidation of a democratic culture and towards a peaceful end of the deep crisis in which the country was plunged in recent times."
It said the election proceeded in a "calm and orderly manner", although there were a few reports of intimidation and disruption.
The Victorian Local Government Association also declared the poll "free and fair".
It raised a handful of concerns, including possible double voting, a small number of pre-marked ballots, and unconfirmed reports of bribery of village chiefs and voters, but said the irregularities were "statistically insignificant".
- AAP
