Fretilin set to dominate Timor assembly

Fretilin supporters turned out en masse in the run up to polling day

DILI, East Timor (CNN) -- Initial results from East Timor's first democratic election have indicated the veteran resistance party, Fretilin, will win a commanding position in the territory's new national assembly.

With counting continuing across the UN-administered territory provisional results released Wednesday show the party, which spearheaded the political side of the 24-year fight for independence from Indonesia, winning 11 out of 13 district seats.

It is also expected to win the largest share of the remaining 75 seats in the assembly, which will be allocated according the proportion of votes each party received.

The assembly will be tasked with writing a constitution for the newly independent nation -- laying down the basic system of governance, administration, law and order -- within 90 days of its members being sworn in.

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However, there are signs that Fretilin will fall short of the two-thirds majority it needs to draft the constitution without consulting the other parties.

That prospect had raised concerns among some groups that East Timor could begin its independent democratic future as a virtual one party state.

Final result

The final uncertified tally of votes will be announced on Thursday, giving parties four days to appeal before the count is certified and confirmed on September 10.

The 88-member assembly, expected to transform itself into East Timor's first parliament, will be sworn in five days later after which the UN's chief administrator, Sergio Vieira de Mello, will pick the territory's first all Timorese cabinet.

De Mello will himself remain the territory's de facto president until presidential elections expected before the middle of next year, after which East Timor will formally win its independence.

Officials reported a massive 91 percent turnout at polling stations

Former independence leader Xanana Gusmao is widely expected to become the territory's first president having announced shortly before the poll that, despite his own reluctance, he would bow to popular pressure and stand for the post.

Last week's poll has been hailed by international observers and world leaders for both its massive turnout - which officials say topped 91 percent -- as well as the peaceful nature of the campaign and of polling itself.

The election took place in atmosphere that contrasted markedly with the fear, violence and intimidation that surrounded the vote on independence from Indonesia two years earlier.

In the days before and after that vote hundreds of people died and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homes amid a campaign of terror by pro-Indonesian militia groups and their supporters in the Indonesian military.