Independence hero and former guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao has won a landslide victory in East Timor's first presidential election, the final step in the territory's long and bloody road to nationhood next month.
Gusmao's widely-expected success saw him win 82.69 percent of Sunday's vote to 17.31 percent for less charismatic rival Francisco Xavier do Amaral, according to Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) results announced on Wednesday.
"We can now say from the national results that Xanana Gusmao is the first elected president of East Timor," Carlos Valenzuela, chief electoral officer of the IEC, said.
East Timor will formally become the world's newest nation on May 20 when the United Nations hands over administration to the new government.
Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri, who has often sparred with the widely-popular Gusmao, warmly welcomed the outcome and sought to allay fears his ruling Fretilin party would be a source of conflict for Gusmao's new administration.
"I have come here to congratulate Xanana Gusmao. I do this from the bottom of my heart, believe it or not," he told a news conference.
East Timor's new constitution outlines a semi-presidential system of government where an elected president can dismiss the prime minister and veto legislation but in a framework of strong checks and balances that makes cooperation critical.
Bureau Report
