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Report warns of East Timor corruption

DILI, Timor-Leste, July 26 (UPI) -- A World Bank report finds that democracy in East Timor is fragile with many people increasingly dissatisfied with the government.

The Australian newspaper reports that East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri rejected the report.

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East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta said that a careful reading shows that the World Bank is "optimistic" about East Timor.

"They warn about the dangers but that's all," Horta said. "The prime minister is furious. We are doing very well, the country is very much at peace. We have a dynamic multi-party system -- 12 parties in the parliament."

Cecilio Freitas, of the Dili-based NGO East Timor Peoples' Action party, said that corruption is widespread and includes influence-peddling by senior members of the ruling party, Fretelin.

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