East Timor's Independent Electoral Commission Friday determined the order in which the territory's 16 political parties and five independent candidates will appear on the national ballot for August 30 constituent assembly elections.

The random draw in Dili was observed by representatives of all the competing parties. Similar draws are being carried out Friday and Saturday in East Timor's 13 districts to determine the ballot arrangement for the 13 district seats in the future 88-member constituent assembly.

On the blue-colored national ballot, representing 75 assembly seats, the top spot went to the newly founded Christian Democratic Party (PDC), followed by the historic Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) of Joao Carrascalao. The historic independence party, Fretilin, occupies fifth place.

The national ballot will carry the parties' names, acronyms and symbols. The 16 parties are followed on the national ballot by five independent candidates. Official campaigning for the territory's first free elections begins Sunday.