Timor leaders look to future

Timorese spiritual leader Bishop Carlos Bello called for unity

Political leaders in East Timor have opened the territory's first multi-party congress with calls for unity as the former Indonesian territory prepares for full independence next year.

Addressing the meeting, independence leader Xanana Gusmao called on the 450 delegates to "embrace democracy" and agree on how to prepare for self-rule by the end of 2001.

Xanana Gusmao: The world is watching

"We must lay safe foundations that will sustain the very first new country of the 21st century," he said.

"The international community is looking at us. The world wants to know how mature we are."

The congress is being organised by the Council of National Resistance of Timor, a group of East Timorese factions set up to oppose Indonesian occupation.

Big differences

The meeting comes almost a year after East Timor's historic vote

However, correspondents say many political differences remain between the various groups and parties that could prove difficult to overcome.

"I don't know what is going to come out of this. But if we don't like it then we won't be part of it," Joao Carrascalao of the Democratic Union of Timor, the territory's second biggest party, told reporters.

The meeting comes almost exactly a year to the day after East Timor's historic referendum which brought about an overwhelming vote for independence from Indonesia.

The ballot was followed by weeks of violence and bloodshed as heavily armed pro-Indonesian militiamen, backed up by members of the Indonesian armed forces, went on the rampage.

Tight security

The Falantil guerrillas are now a much reduced force

In recent weeks there have been a series of clashes between UN peacekeeping forces and anti-independence militiamen and tight security has been put in place around the meeting.

On Sunday Mr Gusmao announced that he was stepping down as commander of the Falantil pro-independence guerrilla force to concentrate on "preparing East Timor for independence".

The announcement was seen by observers as a symbolic move to designed to strengthen his credentials as a civilian politician.

Mr Gusmao's deputy, Tau Matan Ruak, has taken control of the much reduced Falantil force.

Elections in the former Portuguese colony have yet to be scheduled although Mr Gusmao is widely expected to become independent East Timor's first president.