Leaders in stand off
EAST TIMOR’S President, Xanana Gusmão, has threatened to resign unless Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, steps down. The ultimatum follows Gusmão’s request for Alkatiri to quit, saying he had lost confidence in him, even though Alkatiri appears to have received the backing of his party. The Prime Minister is unpopular among the East Timorese, many of whom blame him for failing to stop recent violence.
