East Timor's government has promised to tackle the young state's chronic youth unemployment after last week's deadly riots.
"The priority is now on education and health and how to help market the produce of the people . . . and also open employment for the youth," said Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri after a two-day meeting of the new country's leading foreign donors.
He urged young people to halt destructive actions, otherwise "investors will leave".
Hundreds of people rioted in the city last Wednesday, burning buildings and vehicles and looting shops in unrest that was triggered by the arrest of a student. Two people were killed and 25 injured.
Analysts have blamed widespread unemployment and unmet expectations since independence in May. But some also said that unidentified provocateurs, possibly with a political agenda, had stirred up and organised the unrest.
Unemployment is estimated at 43 per cent in Dili and Baucau, the second-largest town. Over 40 per cent of East Timor's 800,000 people are living below the poverty line.The donors' conference, organised by the government and the World Bank, was the first since independence on May 20th and the sixth in a series since 1999, when the country was still under United Nations care.
At the previous meeting on May 15th, international donors pledged some $360 million over three years in new aid for East Timor.
AFP