In ABC News Online

Ramos-Horta warns political parties to behave

East Timor's Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta has warned political parties in the tiny nation to behave themselves in the wake of recent unrest or face losing credibility ahead of elections next year.

Speaking in an interview broadcast on national radio late on Wednesday (local time), Dr Ramos-Horta said parties must restrain from using violence.

"I call on all parties to know that those who want to spread disunity, scare or threaten the people will not be chosen by the people" in the 2007 elections, the Nobel peace laureate said.
"Whoever wants to lead this country in the future would have to have a good standing and not use violence in getting power, because they would not be recognised by the international community."

He cited the case of the Palestinian territories, where democratically-elected Hamas was being snubbed internationally "because they continue to implement violence in a continuous way".
"Do not seek violence, because you are the ones to suffer because of that, but respect the people and respect international regulations," he warned.
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