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Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
República Democrática de Timor-Leste
Political Status: Independent republic established May 20, 2002; constitution approved by Constituent Assembly on March 22, 2002.
Area: 5,641 sq. mi. (14,609 sq. km.).
Population: 924,642 (2004C); 967,000 (2007E).
Major Urban Center (2005E): DILI (49,000).
Official Languages: Portuguese, Tetum. A majority of Timorese are fluent in Bahasa Indonesia (a form of Malay); both it and English are “working languages.”
Monetary Unit: U.S. Dollar (see U.S. article for principal exchange rates).
President: José RAMOS-HORTA (nonparty); elected by popular vote on May 9, 2007; sworn in for a five-year term on May 20, succeeding Kay Rala Xanana (José Alexandre) GUSMÃO (National Congress of East Timorese Reconstruction).
Prime Minister: Kay Rala Xanana (José Alexandre) GUSMÃO (National Congress of East Timorese Reconstruction); appointed by the president on August 6, 2007, ...