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EAST TIMOR: EMERGING NATION

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East Timorese prepare to go to the polls to elect president

It's been a rest day after weeks of campaigning in East Timor, but tomorrow people go to the polls to elect a president for the first time.

Mark Bowling reports from the capital, Dili, that the independence leader, Xanana Gusmao, is the overwhelming favourite to win.

After weeks of campaigning it's predicted now that independence leader and former head of the guerilla army, Xanana Gusmao, has enough popular support to easily beat the only other candidate, Francisco Xavier do Amaral. Electing a president is the last step in East Timor's long and bloody struggle to win independence. The United Nations which still administers East Timor has spent months preparing for tomorrow's ballot, with observers from 43 countries including Australia taking part. Next month East Timor will formally be declared a new nation.

14/04/2002 05:11:26 | ABC Radio Australia News

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