slative branch: unicameral National Parliament (number of seats
can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first
term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members
on an exceptional basis elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to
be held NA August 2006) election results: percent of vote by party -
FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%,
KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%;
seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2,
PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the
National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for
the Judiciary

Political parties and leaders: Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or
ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor
or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC
[Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Pary or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];
Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or
PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or
FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario
CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of
the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes)
or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT
[Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or TRABALHISTA [Paulo Freitas
DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese
Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida Santos COSTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: IBRD, IMF note: UN membership
is expected in September

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Constancio PINTO chancery: NA consulate(s)
general: NA FAX: NA telephone: NA

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant) embassy: Farol district, Dili mailing address: NA telephone:
(670) 390 324 684 FAX: (670) 390 313 206

Flag description: red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the
hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that
extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the cen