Dili – An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 East Timorese have rallied to the governing party, Fretilin, at the country's second city, Baucau, about 122 kilometres east of Dili.

The gathering in the city's football stadium was the biggest since June – when Fretilin organised a counter-demonstration against coup plotters in Dili – and was attended from throughout the newly-independent country although the majority were drawn from the Lautem, Manatuto, Viqeque and Baucau districts.

Purpose of the rally was to hear about Fretilin's preparations for the forthcoming election and introduce campaign workers. Speakers included Fretilin General Secretary Mari Alkatiri, Parliamentary Speaker Luolo and party delegates from each district.

President Xanana Gusmao is expected to announce the date for presidential and parliamentary elections within the next ten days and although he says he will not seek re-election few doubt that he will try to dilute Fretilin's influence.

His possible tactics include delaying the elections so that the opposition parties he favours can continue to organise before he seeks a place in the new parliament as their acknowledged leader while seeking to ensure that he "picks" his successor – possibly interim prime minister Jose Ramos Horta.

If successful, such manoeuvres are sure to be welcomed by the Australian government of John Howard and the Administration of G.W. Bush.

In Dili, Liquiga District Administrator Vicente dos Santos reportedly gave evidence to the judges at the trial of former Interior Minister Rogerio Lobato showing an alleged link between civilian militia member Vicente "Railos" da Conceicao and President Gusmao.

In his statement, Do Santos said "Railos" had showed him a telephone number to confirm that President Xanana had called.

He also said that he heard "Railos" speak to President Xanana Gusmao during the crisis that led to Alkatiri's resignation as prime minister and that 'Railos' himself had instigated difficulties in Liquiga. The evidence about "Railos" is crucial to the trial because his allegations that Lobato and Alkatiri distributed weapons and ordered the assassination of their political opponents was crucial to the former prime minister's forced resignation.

The telecast of the untested accusations also won Australia's highest journalism accolade for the State-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation's current affairs flagship, Four Corners. The Lobato trial has gone all but unreported by the Australian media.

It was supposed to have destroyed both Alkatiri and Lobato but so far the former prime minister has not been mentioned and it might yet be shown that Laboto acted within the law. Xanana Gusmao, who has just returned from a visit to North America, is reported to have said that he is ready to respond to the judges anytime he is called.

Anti-Fretilin forces – such as the National Movement for Justice and Peace – have indicated their dissatisfaction with the possible outcome of the trial by threatening new demonstrations in Dili.