Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri finally surrendered to mounting pressure and announced his resignation in Dili on Monday, which was widely expected to help unravel or even end the months-long political unrest and riots in the world's youngest country.

 

"I declare I'm ready to quit my position as prime minister, so as to avoid the resignation of President Xanana Gusmao," he was quoted by Indonesia's Detikcom news website as saying.

 

The national interests were the most important things and "I am determined not to deepen the crisis," he said, adding "I am ready to hold dialogues with the president if I am needed in the formation of the (new) government."

 

Dramatic moments abounded in the process of Alkatiri's resignation, as he once survived frequent protests and resignations or firing of four cabinet ministers.

 

On Sunday, Defense and Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Ramos-Horta resigned in Dili, right after the ruling party Fretilin agreed to keep Mari Alkatiri as prime minister.

 

"I decided to resign from the government until a new government is established. I am ready to serve this nation in whatever position," Horta said through his spokesman.

 

The left-leaning ruling Fretilin party, which met in emergency session Sunday, said Alkatiri had accepted the unanimous appeal of its committee not to resign.

 

Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Ovideo Amaral also handed in his resignation on Sunday.

 

"Fretilin members should use realistic thinking. There is much pressure from the people. They don't want Alkatiri to stay in power, so why should Fretilin support him?" he said.

 

Alkatiri heads the Fretilin that has an overwhelming majority in the parliament.

 

Earlier last week, President Gusmao also threatened to resign if Alkatiri remained in the cabinet.

 

In addition, protesters frequented the streets in the capital city in recent months to demand Alkatiri's resignation as they held him responsible for the months-long riots in the country.

 

At the end of May when the riots was on height, Gusmao sacked Defense Minister Ruque Rodrigues and Home Affairs Minister Rogerio Lobato after a two-day emergency meeting with Alkatiri and other top officials of his government.

 

The president said that the two ministers were fired because they did not live up to their duties, which led to the widespread riots in Dili. The two were widely thought to be scapegoats.

 

The tiny nation was plunged into violence in May after Alkatiri fired nearly 600 of the country's 1,400 strong army men for mutiny when they protested about alleged discrimination against them.

 

Since then, the sacked troops kept on exchanging fires with those loyal to the government and youth gang fighting, looting and arson ensued in Dili.

 

The situation led to the arrival of 2,500 international peacekeeping forces led by the Australian troops.

 

Timor-Leste became independent from Indonesia in 2002, after two years under the United Nations transitional government following a referendum for independence.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2006)