Kupang mayor steps down

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Kupang Mayor Lerik stepped down on Tuesday to allow the municipal legislative council to hold an election to find a successor.

Lerik, whose term of office was to end in March 2002, handed his letter of resignation to Mell Yacob, chairman of the municipal legislative council, during the legislature's plenary session on Tuesday.

"The mayor's resignation has initiated a good tradition for developing democracy in the city, with a mayor stepping down months before his term of office comes to an end," Mell said.

He said despite the resignation, the administration would continue under his authority while the legislature would set up a special committee to organize the election.

"With the mayor's resignation, it will be impossible for him to abuse his power to extend his term of office for a second period and to beat out other candidates," he said. --Antara