Dili – Estanislau Aleixo da Silva was sworn in Saturday as East Timor's interim prime minister, succeeding Jose Ramos Horta, who was elected president of the tiny state in a landslide earlier this month.

Aleixo da Silva, a member of the ruling Fretilin party, will only serve until next month's parliamentary elecitons, in which outgoing president Xanana Gusmao is widely tipped to become the next prime minister.

"I feel honoured that I am trusted by my party as well as by President Xanana to hold the post of prime minister," he told reporters after a ceremony at the presidential palace, presided over by Gusmao.

"I do not want to make many promises as it's only for a brief period. I only want to promise you that I'll work hard to create good conditions for the next election, to enable Timorese people to exercise their voting rights."

Aleixo da Silva previously served as deputy prime minister and agriculture minister He confirmed rumours that foreign minister Luis Guterres had been sacked, without offering further details.