CANBERRA - The Australian-born wife of outgoing East Timor president Xanana Gusmao tonight called for political activists not to react violently to the outcome of the presidential election.
East Timorese voted today in the wake of a year-long security crisis and under the guard of Australian-led troops.
"There's a lot at stake so I guess there will be different groups and individuals who will not be satisfied to be in a losing position," Kirsty Sword Gusmao told ABC TV.
"We would like to think that our leaders will be appealing for calm and doing their best to ensure that violence won't erupt.
"People have certainly had enough violence in their lives and they've suffered tremendously ... definitely in the last year."
Ms Sword Gusmao said the peaceful conduct during today's voting was a credit to the dignity of the Timorese and their high regard for the democratic process.
She said that while the presidency was largely a ceremonial position, the result of the vote may indicate the fledgling country's political direction.
"In some ways, the outcome of this election will be taken as a litmus test for the outcomes of the parliamentary elections in a couple of months' time."
Ms Sword Gusmao, East Timor's first lady since independence from Indonesia, said her husband's term was ending with some regret for both of them.
"Like Xanana, I'm sad and a little disheartened that we both leave these roles with so many as yet unresolved political problems and with many tensions and such a long way to go."
Shelving plans to retire from politics, Xanana Gusmao intends to run for prime minister in the parliamentary poll.
"Xanana has my full support for his course of action as he always has," Ms Sword Gusmao said.
"It will be another role he will accept and, of course, I will also accept."
She said that despite its recent turmoil, East Timor had great potential.
"I believe that we can do much under the direction of a government that is committed to poverty eradication and has a caring and compassionate approach to it leadership."