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)