East Timor's charismatic president Xanana Gusmao today made an emotional visit to the Indonesian prison where he was held for four years as a rebel before his country was granted independence.

Mr Gusmao toured Jakarta's notorious Cipinang jail, meeting inmates of the cell where he was incarcerated in 1992 for his role leading the Timorese rebel resistance to Indonesia's occupying forces.

"This is not just a nostalgic visit for me. I know exactly how the inmates feel and suffer. I'm here today also to give support to my friends who are still here," he said with tears in his eyes.

While behind bars Mr Gusmao gained a reputation as East Timor's version of Nelson Mandela, inspiring a separatist spirit that in 1999 led to a violent split from Indonesia. He reluctantly became the country's first president in 2002.

Prison chief Dedi Sutardi described Mr Gusmao's impromptu visit as amicable. "It was a friendly visit, we had a great talk about old times. We smoked and had coffee together," he told Jakarta's Elshinta radio.