Gusmao urges grassroots democracy

Gusmao urges grassroots democracy

EAST TIMOR: President Xanana Gusmao took stock of his new nation on Friday in a speech marking 100 days of independence, calling for greater grassroots democracy to check potential abuse of power.

Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo marked another anniversary -- three years since the vote to break away from Indonesia -- with a plea for an international tribunal for offenders in the 1999 violence which surrounded the vote.

Gusmao, responding to recent anti-government protests, hit back at those who "want to create a crisis" and urged people to give the government time.

A public holiday commemorated the UN-organized referendum, in which almost 80 percent voted to break away from Indonesia despite a terror campaign by Indonesian-backed local militias. --AFP