East Timor Creates New Post Of Vice Prime Minister
DILI, East Timor, March 5 (AP)--East Timor on Wednesday created a new
post of
vice prime minister in a bid to boost government efficiency in the world's
newest nation.
Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri appointed Justice Minister Ana Pesoa to
the new
post. Pesoa, of the ruling Fretilin party, is to be replaced at the Justice
Ministry by her deputy, Domingos Sarmento, the prime minister said.
Alkatiri said he hoped the change would improve his administration's
efficiency.
East Timor became independent in May after three years of transitional
U.N.
administration, 24 years of Indonesian occupation and more than 400 years
of
Portuguese colonial rule.
The poverty-stricken country inherited a legacy of corruption and
inefficiency from Indonesia . It was largely destroyed by the Indonesian
military after choosing independence in a U.N. sponsored referendum in
1999.
Alkatiri also announced a new post of state secretary for telecommunications,
and named ex-journalist Virgilio Guterres as director-general of television.