There were no reported problems as vote-counting got underway in East Timor this morning - one day after the territory's first democratic elections, according to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).
Under a calm and peaceful atmosphere, hundreds of thousands of East Timorese headed to the polls on Thursday to vote in the territory's first democratic elections, which Secretary-General Kofi Annan called "a glowing example to the world community."
Tomorrow's first-ever democratic elections in East Timor will be a defining moment in the territory's long and often painful quest for self-determination, which will culminate in statehood sometime next year, the head of the United Nations transitional administration said today.
The head of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) today praised the territory's people for conducting a violence-free electoral campaign, and, echoing appeals from the UN Secretary-General and Security Council, urged everyone to exercise their right to vote.
A senior United Nations official today commended the "exemplary civility and peacefulness" that have marked the campaign for the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections in East Timor.
A United Nations civilian police officer has been charged with allegedly raping an East Timorese woman, the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) said today.
Security Council members today voiced their support to the ongoing electoral campaign in East Timor, echoing the sentiments of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who earlier this week had urged a large voter turn-out for the 30 August elections.
As part of the ongoing efforts of the United Nations mission in East Timor to resolve the refugee situation, a senior pro-autonomy leader today visited the former militia stronghold of Covalima District, where he met over 200 representatives of the local community.
A 284-strong contingent of activists from a volunteer arm of the United Nations spread out today across all districts of East Timor to finalize arrangements for the territory's historic Constituent Assembly elections set for 30 August.
In advance of the 30 August elections in East Timor, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged the Timorese people to exercise their right and responsibility to vote, and assured them that the United Nations and its agencies were supporting their "heroic efforts" to rebuild their lives.
