Dili – East Timorese voted in a steady stream Monday in this troubled Indonesian territory, but interest in the elections was low, taking a back seat to a UN-sponsored ballot on self-determination in August.

"If we don't vote, it is not good for us," said one nervous voter at a polling station in this seaside capital. But then he grinned, and said although he had turned up and gone through the motions, he had spoiled his ballot, making it invalid.

The 124 polling stations in the Dili area and another 793 across the territory opened at 8am and closed at 2pm.

Only 43.9 percent of some 400,000 eligible voters in East Timor have registered, poll officials have said, one of the lowest levels in the country.

Among those not voting was the territory's Nobel laureate, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, whose assistant, Armandino, said that the bishop had no intention of voting and would remain in his residence for the day.

Said another voter, lined up with his wife and child: "Well, this time we just have to follow. But we'll vote on August 8."

Interest in the national Indonesian vote has been eclipsed by the ballot on August 8 to decide whether or not people want broad autonomy under Indonesia. The government has said it will consider offering independence if they refuse.

The August ballot was part of an autonomy offer agreed between Indonesia and Portugal at the United Nations on May 5.

Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony of East Timor in 1975 and annexed it the following year but the United Nations continues to view Lisbon as the official administrator.

In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told reporters after casting his own ballot that he hoped the "ballot not the bullet" would determine the future of East Timor in August.

"I think [preparations for the August vote] are progressing quite well, gradually more and more [United Nations] civilian police are comming to help the maintanance of security there," Alatas said.

"We will overcome the last manifestation of insecurity and I am quite sure we will be able to create a conducive situation for a peaceful, free and fair popular consultation there," he said of fears that continuing violence, particularly by Indonesian military-backed militia, could scuttle the vote.

"We are overcoming the last remaining manifestation of conflicts between the two groups [pro-Indonesia and anti-Indonesia]," he said. "Let the ballot decide and not the bullet."