Third day of protests in Dili

Third day of protests in Dili

DILI, East Timor: Hundreds of protesters on Tuesday took to
the streets here to press for the resignation of the Jakarta-
appointed governor.

For the third straight day, demonstrators demanded the
resignation of Jose Osorio Abilio Soares who was appointed
governor of the former Portuguese territory in 1993.

The "Pro-integration and pro-reform East Timorese" were the
latest group to protest against Abilio.

Tens of thousands of East Timorese protested on Sunday and
Monday, demanding that Abilio step down for threatening to fire
civil servants unless they endorsed the government-sponsored
proposal of autonomy for the territory.

On Tuesday, protesters accused Abilio of diverting state
funds.

They also charged that Soares' statements had created negative
sentiment among East Timorese toward the government and the Armed
Forces.

"We give Abilio 15 days to resign," they said.

The rally ended peacefully after more than three hours. (33)