Mark Dodd, Dili – East Timor's de facto parliament was hit yesterday with the resignation of a second high-profile political leader in less than a month.

Mr Jose Ramos Horta, the Nobel peace laureate, had only been a backbencher for two weeks when he announced his resignation from the National Council, saying he was returning to his former position as Cabinet member for foreign affairs.

"With effect from today [Monday] I have submitted my letter of resignation to the deputy special representative of the Secretary-General. Members have persuaded me that the portfolio of foreign affairs was very important to East Timor and I should continue in that post." Mr Ramos Horta is the Cabinet member for foreign affairs in the United Nations-run transitional administration.

Analysts said there were a number of possible reasons for his resignation. The 36-member National Council will fade into history after East Timor goes to the polls on August 30 to elect its first democratic parliament. Mr Ramos Horta, an ambitious politician, may well think that his time should be better spent preparing his election campaign.

He was also miffed at his failure to be elected speaker of the National Council after the resignation last month of Mr Xanana Gusmao, East Timor's best-known independence figure.

A fortnight ago the National Council elected a veteran independence campaigner, Mr Manuel Carrascalao, as speaker, over Mr Ramos Horta, who was supported by the UN authority in his bid.

A polished public speaker, fluent in English, Portuguese and his native Tetum, Mr Ramos Horta is used to a high profile on the political circuit, and a backbench role in a soon-to-be-dissolved council would not have suited his personal style.

Mr Gusmao is president of East Timor's main pro-independence grouping, the National Council of Timorese Resistance, and Mr Ramos Horta is its vice-president, a position he was elected to last August.

Mr Ramos Horta praised the national council yesterday for its professionalism, and also spoke warmly of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor.

Mr Horta's endorsement of it did not go down well with several members. Ms Angela Freitas was highly critical of the administration's failure to rectify economic problems and to recruit more East Timorese as electoral staff.