It marked the last major campaign event ahead of Monday's referendum on an offer of greater autonomy from Indonesia, which invaded the territory in 1975.

If Timor gains self-determination, the jailed independence leader Xanana Gusmao says there should be an amnesty "for all political crimes committed until now".

He said the amnesty would promote reconciliation among East Timorese.

Fears of violence

There is still concern about the possibility of violent disruption to next Monday's vote.

The BBC's Simon Ingram reports: "Suspicions over the role of the Jakarta government remain intense"

The United Nations says there are several areas, mainly close to the border with West Timor, where voters have fled their homes and may be unable to reach polling stations, or where UN staff overseeing the ballot would fear for their safety.

But the UN remains adament that the ballot will go ahead on Monday, although it says that it could be delayed until Tuesday in cases of "extreme" security breaches.

The head of the UN mission in East Timor, Ian Martin, told the BBC that there was still "a lot of intimidation in a number of districts". He said that Indonesian authorities were making plans to ensure security on polling day, but added that they had "left it very late" to try to provide conditions for a free and fair ballot.

Exuberance

Trees provided a better vantage point for viewing the rally

At the pro-independence rally, hundreds of trucks and buses drove through Dili as the crowd, estimated at more than 10,000, took over the picturesque sea-front in what they described as a festival atmosphere.

A mood of exuberance was unmistakable as the big crowd assembled.

Many wore the black and red colours of the East Timorese resistance - others brandished portraits of Xanana Gusmao.

On Tuesday, more than 2,000 supporters of Jakarta's alternative autonomy proposal paraded through the little town.

Ian Martin, Head of the UN Mission to East Timor speaks to BBC News

Police kept a watchful eye on Wednesday's pro-independence march but made no attempt to interfere. Pro-Jakarta militias were nowhere to be seen.

One of the organisers, Agio Pereria, said a clear message was being sent to anyone planning to sabotage the ballot and abort the consultation process.

"Don't stop our people to reach the ballot box, because this is a right," he said. "Each individual has his or her right to exercise the right to vote in peace. And we hope that this is the message that we send today."

Call for calm

Many observers fear that a bloodbath will follow the referendum, whatever the result.

An anti-separatist militia leader, Tito Batista, has warned that war could ensue if the autonomy option is rejected.

Xanana Gusmao offered a political amnesty if East Timor becomes independent

But in offering a political amnesty, Mr Gusmao also called for "an immediate end to violence".

He said an independent East Timor would "welcome in its bosom all the East Timorese, regardless of the positions they assumed in the past.

"I particularly refer to those who are part of the pro-integration paramilitary forces," said the guerrilla leader, who was jailed for 20 years in 1992 but transferred to house arrest in February.

Mr Gusmao's independence blueprint also pledges the respect and protection of private ownership and national and foreign investment, and the development of a market economy "with selective intervention of the state to ensure equity, transparency and efficiency".