FRESH FIGHTING AND LOOTING BROKE OUT IN EAST TIMOR'S CAPITAL ON FRIDAY, AND NOBEL LAUREATE JOSE RAMOS HORTA SAID HE WAS BECOMING THE GOVERNMENT'S TOP SECURITY MINISTER TO TRY TO HEAL DIVISIONS IN THE ARMED FORCES THAT HAVE PLUNGED THE COUNTRY INTO CRISIS. "I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HEAL THE WOUNDS WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES, BETWEEN THE ARMED FORCES AND THE POLICE FORCE, BETWEEN THE ARMED FORCES AND SOCIETY AT LARGE,» RAMOS HORTA TOLD AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORP. RADIO. RAMOS HORTA, A JOINT NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER, WAS EXPECTED TO BE SWORN IN ON SUNDAY AS DEFENSE MINISTER AND INTERIOR MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICE. THE MOVE WAS A FURTHER STEP IN PRESIDENT XANANA GUSMAO'S BID TO BREAK A POLITICAL DEADLOCK THAT HAS PARALYZED THE GOVERNMENT FOR WEEKS, OPENING THE WAY TO WIDESPREAD LOOTING AND ARSON IN THE CAPITAL THAT HAS DISPLACED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TERRIFIED RESIDENTS.
