Joanna Jolly, Dili – The United Nations is optimistic that a dispute threatening the participation of East Timorese independence leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao in the nation's first elections will be solved soon, a spokesman said Sunday.

Gusmao, who is the overwhelming favorite to win the polls, on Saturday threatened to withdraw his candidacy in an argument over election procedures. The former guerrilla fighter said he disagreed with a rule calling for ballot papers to carry party logos next to candidate names. Although he has been nominated by nine parties, Gusmao said he wanted to run as an independent to unite the country.

"The U.N is optimistic that a solution will be found by the beginning of the campaign period on Friday," said the world body's head of political affairs in East Timor, Colin Stewart. Elections are scheduled to begin on April 14. Stewart said the United Nations – which has administered East Timor since it voted for independence from Indonesia in 1999 – would support efforts to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties.

Despite enjoying vast popularity in the territory, Gusmao is a reluctant candidate for the nation's top job. He has made several threats not to run as president over the past year. Aderito de Jesus Soares, a member of East Timor's largest political party Fretilin, said Gusmao's recent behavior was losing him support. "He wants people to beg him to become leader. He is behaving inconsistently and he is moving further and further away from the grass roots," he said.

Gusmao's only opponent in the race will be Fransisco Xavier do Amaral, who was appointed East Timor's first president in 1975 after its Portuguese colonial government pulled out. Gusmao joined the armed resistance against Indonesian rule and quickly rose to command the guerrilla forces in the 1980s. He was captured by Indonesian troops in 1992 and was held prisoner in Jakarta for seven years.