DILI: Timor-Leste’s top court of appeal has dismissed the Fretilin party’s petition for a recount of votes after losing power in the May 12 general election.

Fretilin had called to have votes in four districts recounted after it suffered a heavy swing against it from voters switching to the new Alliance for Change and Progress (AMP) coalition party.

DILI: Timor-Leste police have identified suspects in the beating of young street vendors from Oecusse in Tasi Tolu last week.

Police are hunting for the perpetrators after a spate of alleged attacks on people from Oecusse working in the capital of Dili.

DILI:Xanana Gusmao has called on Timor-Leste’s President Francisco Lu Olo Guterres to cease his Fretilin party influence, in a bid to end a prolonged political impasse that has stalled parliament since January.

A legislative stalemate has dominated Timor-Leste’s politics since a coalition of opposition parties, led by Gusmao and with the majority of seats in parliament, refused to pass Fretilin’s government program.

DILI: The Alliance for Change and Progress (AMP) party has distanced itself from setting a date when it will announce its Prime Minister choice, as commentators put it down to a two man race between Xanana Gusmao and Taur Matan Ruak.