Dili: A veteran guerrilla commander is heading for a decisive victory in East Timor's presidential elections and is expected to be sworn in as the country's next head of state in May.
Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres had received 57 per cent of the national vote with 90 per cent of votes counted in Monday's election.
More World News Videos
- Video duration
- 00:39
East Timor's historic election
East Timor's historic election
It is the first presidential election since the departure of United Nations peacekeepers in 2012.
Up Next
What does Hawking think about Trump?
- Video duration
- 01:15
- Video duration
- 01:15
What does Hawking think about Trump?
What does Hawking think about Trump?
Eminent scientist Stephen Hawking reflected on Donald Trump's election victory and says he no longer feels welcome in the United States.
Up Next
Germany tells Turkey to stop Nazi comparisons
- Video duration
- 01:27
- Video duration
- 01:27
Germany tells Turkey to stop Nazi ...
Germany tells Turkey to stop Nazi comparisons
Nazi comparisons coming out of Turkey must stop, says German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Up Next
White House responds to FBI chief's testimony
- Video duration
- 01:56
- Video duration
- 01:56
White House responds to FBI chief's ...
White House responds to FBI chief's testimony
President Donald Trump's claims that former President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower have been rejected by FBI director James Comey, who also confirmed an investigation into possible links between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Up Next
Brazil meat scandal a heavy blow to economy
- Video duration
- 01:39
- Video duration
- 01:39
Brazil meat scandal a heavy blow to ...
Brazil meat scandal a heavy blow to economy
Fallout from a corruption scandal in Brazil's massive meat industry has spread, with China and South Korea suspending some imports and the European Union mulling action.
Up Next
A record year for the world's richest
- Video duration
- 00:56
- Video duration
- 00:56
A record year for the world's richest
A record year for the world's richest
Gina Rinehart was one of many billionaires who saw their fortunes increase dramatically in the last 12 months according to Forbes magazine.
Up Next
Putin opponent splashed with green liquid
- Video duration
- 00:34
- Video duration
- 00:34
Putin opponent splashed with green liquid
Putin opponent splashed with green liquid
A man throws green liquid on Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is planning to challenge Vladimir Putin in the 2018 presidential election.
East Timor's historic election
It is the first presidential election since the departure of United Nations peacekeepers in 2012.
Mr Guterres's campaign was backed by Fretilin, the party that led East Timor's revolutionary struggle to independence, and the country's behind-the-scenes powerbroker Xanana Gusmao.
His election is a vote of confidence in a government of national unity that was formed by Mr Gusmao in 2015 comprising Fretilin and the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT).
Related Content
Michael Leach, an expert on East Timor from Victoria's Swinburne University, said the strong support for Mr Guterres shows the "power-sharing combination of CNRT and Fretilin remains strongly competitive".
Despite that voting was not compulsory, hundreds of thousands of Timorese waited patiently in long queues in blistering heat to vote for a new president for a five-year term ahead of general elections in July.
The elections will be a key to the future of Asia's newest democracy amid concerns the half-island nation's oil and gas revenues are rapidly running dry.
Running second in the unofficial count with 32 per cent of the vote on Tuesday was Democratic Party politician Antonio da Conceicao, the 53-year-old current education minister who says he represents a younger generation of Timorese demanding a change of leadership in the country where poverty remains endemic and there are growing concerns about corruption.
He also campaigned to the build the nation "from the grass roots" by ensuring the majority of people who live in rural areas have enough food, access to markets, schools, clinics, and water and sanitation.
Mr Guterres, 62, who had contested the presidency in three previous elections, needed to get more than 50 per cent of the vote to avoid a run-off election in April.
He received only 30 per cent of first round votes in 2007 and 2012 elections.
The president is largely a ceremonial post but the incumbent Jose Maria de Vasconcelos, also known as Taur Matan Ruak, has spoken out about corruption and insisted on revision of the government's budget.
Mr Vasconcelos is expected to contest the July vote as head of the newly formed People's Liberation Party (PLP).
"President Ruak and his PLP have the best part of four months to make inroads," Professor Leach said.
East Timor has 744,613 registered voters in a population of 1.26 million.