East Timor votes in key elections

Polls closed at 3pm local time on Saturday, with some 645,000 voters registered to take part in the election.

The left-wing Fretilin party, which played an important role in the struggle for independence from both Portugal and Indonesia, has campaigned on the platform of using the country's considerable oil revenues to boost income and education levels.

Meanwhile, the center-left national Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) is advocating a more long-term approach that would concentrate on investment in infrastructure projects to improve transport and the supply of electricity and water.

The CNRT's Xanana Gusmao, formerly a key figure within the Fretilin movement, is aiming to remain as the country's prime minister.

The readiness of East Timor to take on its own security responsibilities hinges on the vote.

There are concerns that violence might arise in the country, which celebrated a decade of independence in May, if a sufficiently strong coalition cannot be formed.

The 3,000-strong United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) - which currently polices the country - was deployed to restore security in 2006, after an internal political crisis that led to fighting among police and soldiers.

Also awaiting a possible departure from the country is the International Stabilization Force, made up of some 450 troops from New Zealand and Australia.

The country, which has significant offshore fields of oil and natural gas, became independent from Portugal in 1975, but was subsequently invaded by Indonesia only days later.

Some 183,000 people died from fighting, disease and starvation before the population voted for independence in a UN-led referendum in 1999.

rc/tj (AFP, Reuters)