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East Timor is independent

The Indonesian President, Megawati Sukarnoputri, and the East Timorese President, Xanana Gusmao, in Dili on Sunday. — Reuters

DILI (East Timor) May 19. East Timor, a land long brutalised by foreign occupiers, was declared independent on Monday in a joyous ceremony in this seaside capital, and took its place among the community of nations.

The world's newest country came into being with a solemn declaration of independence by the Parliamentary Speaker, Mr. Fransisco Guterres, and a speech by the U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

Minutes later, the former guerilla commander, Xanana Gusmao, was declared the country's first President. — AP

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