Some 2,000 protesters calling for the ouster of East Timor’s PM cruised around Parliament in a convoy of trucks and motorcycles today, hours after mobs set buildings on fire and looted a warehouse filled with farm supplies.“Down with (PM Mari) Alkatiri,” the demonstrators shouted as they circled Parliament and government offices. A man using a loudspeaker urged East Timorese to forget their differences and unite: “Give power to President Xanana Gusmao and bring down Alkatiri!” The convoy stopped at the office of Gusmao, an adored former guerrilla chief who stood on the roof of a car with a loudspeaker and said he would consider the demands, but urged the protesters to be peaceful.Thousands of fearful residents have fled their homes and are living in makeshift camps and shelters in and around the city. UN agencies have delivered emergency airlifts of food rations, cooking sets, tents and blankets.
