The only sour note came from pro-Jakarta East Timorese militia

The only sour note came from pro-Jakarta East Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres, who accused Gusmao of killing pro- integration East Timorese in 1975, when Indonesia came in months after Portuguese colonizers withdrew.

"I do not regard him as a good leader because he has committed mistakes in the past by murdering many pro-integration East Timorese who were his brothers in 1975," Guterres told AFP.

"And I think it's also due to the fact that he divorced his East Timorese wife and married an Aussie woman," Guterres added.

Guterres said he would only congratulate Gusmao "if he can successfully build East Timor."