Xanana Gusmao, Cast his vote
Polling has ended in East Timor, where voters have been electing the country's first parliament. The elected Assembly will replace the United Nations administration, which has been running the territory.
Turnout in the election was very high, with an estimated 93% of voters casting their ballots. The election is taking place on the second anniversary of a referendum in which a majority of East Timorese voted to break away from Indonesia. The vote led to widespread violence by Indonesian troops and militias, in which at least 1,000 people were killed.
The Chief Electoral Officer in East Timor said that polling had progressed without difficulties. Carlos Valenzuela, told a media conference that voting had been "peaceful and orderly throughout. No particular incidents or disturbances or problems with the polling have been brought to the IEC's attention."
Up to 425,000 people are electing an 88-member assembly, which will draft a constitution and become the parliament by early December.
