E. Timor independence hero Gusmao's party wins in election

East Timor independence hero XananaGusmao's party won a parliamentary election but is short of an outright majority, official results showed Tuesday. The opposition National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) led with 41.6 percent of the votes, while its main rival and incumbent coalition leader Fretilin got 25.7 percent.

The result paves the way for a return to power for the 76-year-old Gusmao, East Timor's first president, if he can form a coalition.  More than two decades after independence, East Timor is still struggling with poverty, the aftermath of the Covid pandemic and devastating natural disasters, including a 2021 cyclone that killed at least 40 people.