East Timor's new parliament is ready to be sworn in next week but it's still unclear who will be prime minister.

The Fretilin Party narrowly claimed victory at the parliamentary elections in late July and is still in negotiations for the makeup of a coalition government. The talks are expected to continue over the weekend along with the jostling for ministerial positions.

Deakin University expert Damien Kingsbury said Mari Alkatiri and Rui Maria de Araujo were the likely contenders for the prime minister, both having served in the role previously. If Dr de Araujo gets the job, it's likely Mr Alkatiri will be the "power behind the throne", he said.

Former president and independence hero Xanana Gusmao is set to continue heading up his country's negotiations with Australia on a maritime boundary. The governments are taking part in conciliation in The Hague.

A final report is due to go to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in September but it's likely negotiating teams will report progress and ask for more time.

East Timor notified Australia in January that it wished to tear up a 2006 treaty which split 50-50 future revenue of the Greater Sunrise oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea.

The reserve contains gas and oil worth an estimated $50 billion, but how the spoils will be divided up must now be revisited.

Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/09/01/new-east-timor-parliament-be-sworn