East Timor parliament sworn in, on government yet

Source: CCTV.com | 07-31-2007 09:59

East Timor's new parliament has been sworn in following last month's indecisive election.

At its first parliamentary session the 65-seat chamber elected Fernando de Araujo of the Democratic Party as the parliamentary speaker. With no party winning more than half of the vote, rival groups have not reached an agreement on who should form the new government.

The country's newly elected president Jose Ramos-Horta says he'll use his constitutional right to decide the make up of the new government if parties fail to do so.

Among the elected legislators are Fretlin's secretary general Mari Alkatira and East Timor's first post-independence President Xanana Gusmao. Both say they are ready to be the country's next prime minister.

Editor:Du Xiaodan