 AT his home yesterday, East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao accepted weapons handed over by civilians. Mr Gusmao said he expected more people to turn in their arms as the political crisis dragged on. The popular president, embroiled in a stand-off with Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri over recent violence, was handed seven rifles by civilians. However, he declined to allow the civilians to be named or be photographed. "The priority of this government is to have all the weapons in the hands of civilians returned to government hands," he said. |