E. Timor leader to form coalition

7/16/2012

DILI, East Timor -- East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's party -- which won elections this month but not a decisive majority -- will form a coalition that excludes the main opposition group, Freitilin, the prime minister said Sunday.

Mr. Gusmao's National Council of Timorese Resistance Party will join the Democratic Party and the Frente Reform party in government, he said.

Freitilin supporters stoned cars in front of their party headquarters after the decision was announced, a witness said, but there were no reports of casualties and the situation appeared to be under control.

East Timor, which has offshore gas resources, gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and is Asia's newest and one of its poorest nations.