East Timor gears up for independence

The UN will hand over to East Timor's new president (R)

As East Timor gears up for independence in two days' time, the President-elect, Xanana Gusmao, has said that improving living standards, and not revenge, should be the country's priority.

Party time

Begins with 90-minute sunset mass

Traditional dances and music in the lead-up to midnight

Lavish 35-minute fireworks display follows handover

Guests include Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton and Megawati

Mr Gusmao told a news conference that those responsible for the atrocities surrounding East Timor's 1999 vote for independence should be punished, but feelings of hatred and revenge should be eradicated.

In the capital Dili, 200 United Nations peacekeepers and local defence troops paraded in front of the UN administration headquarters, which will formally hand over sovereignty to East Timor's new administration at midnight (1500 GMT) on Sunday.

Meanwhile, at the UN headquarters in New York, the Security Council approved a new peacekeeping mission for East Timor, consisting of 5,000 troops and 1,250 police officers.

Heavy security

The people of East Timor are scrambling to get everything ready for the independence celebrations - a music and dance display followed by fireworks to be attended by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri and former US President, Bill Clinton.

Up to 200,000 East Timorese - nearly a third of the population - are expected to flock to the party in a massive dusty field around a lake on Dili's outskirts.

The head of the UN in East Timor is already saying goodbye to his troops

The leader of East Timor's former ruler, Indonesia's President Megawati, will fly in flanked by two jet fighters, while an Indonesian naval vessel will dock on Saturday in Dili to unload presidential security guards, armoured vehicles and helicopters.

"Not even an ant will touch her," regional commander Colonel Muswarno Musanip was quoted as saying by the state Antara news agency.

Reconciliation

But Mr Gusmao denied that Indonesia needed to worry about Megawati's security, and stressed that the emphasis of his future state must be on reconciliation.

	East Timor key facts: Population of 800,000 Asia's poorest country Languages include Tetum, Portuguese and Indonesian 90% Roman Catholic See also:  East Timor in depth

Talking to reporters in the seaside capital, Mr Gusmao said: "We must do our best to eradicate old sentiments of hatred and revenge... otherwise we are living with the ghosts of the past".

He suggested that, regarding the contentious issue of those who took part in the 1999 independence, they should be tried and jailed. But their sentences could be commuted for good behaviour, and offenders should be fully rehabilitated into the community, he said.

Mr Gusmao reiterated his desire to be a pumpkin farmer rather than president.

"But I promised I would go again and again to listen to them, to discuss their difficulties -... hoping that five years later I can serve (them) a big pumpkin".

He said the people of East Timor fought for independence "to see their daily lives improve", adding that: "Right from the beginning we have many problems. We are the poorest country in Asia."

Oil treaty

East Timor's best hope for self-generated finance is the petroleum-rich sea between the fledgling territory and neighbouring Australia.

Australia and East Timor are to sign a treaty on Monday which marks out a joint development zone of 30,000 square kilometres and splits royalties from the zone 90% in East Timor's favour.

Mr Howard has rejected criticism of the treaty as biased towards Australia, saying it is "extremely fair".