2nd LD Writethru: Timor-Leste PM Xanana Gusmao resigns

Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmao has resigned from his post, and he is now waiting for the response from President Taur Matan Ruak after he submitted his resignation letter to him, a government spokesperson said on Friday.

"It's now for the president of the republic to consider and respond to the letter of resignation," the spokesperson said in a statement published in official website.

The prime minister had expressed his resignation plan two weeks ago in a meeting with most of officials in his government in capital Dili on Jan. 28, earlier reports said.

The 68-year-old former guerrilla commander during the nation's struggle to attain independence said that he would let younger generation to lead the country.

So far, no successor has been appointed to replace Xanana in his post. Reports said the government official who is likely to succeed Xanana is the health minister.

Xanana had conveyed the signal to resign a year ago, saying that he would spend the rest of his life in the mountain and write poetry, a report said.

Two ministers in his government said Xanana would still be willing to have a role in the next government, another report said.

In the past few months of administering the nation, Xanana has restructured his government in a bid to preserve the unity of the nation. Endi