Newly-elected President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos Horta vowed here on Thursday he will continue to restore stability and boost economy to combat poverty in the troubled country.

Horta made the statement after the National Electoral Commission announced the result of tabulation, indicating that he is the winner of the second round of the presidential election.

"The process of consolidating democracy and engaging in dialogues is very important for stability in this country," Horta told reporters here.

In addition, he said that he would reform the local police and army as well.

"The president also needs to push the reform of the security sector, the army and the police," he said.

Timor-Leste descended into chaos in April last year after a bloody violence killed more than 23 people and displaced more than 30,000 others.

The sacking of 600 military men by controversial former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri triggered the resistance by the sacked military men, sparking gang street fighting in the new country.

The situation were restored temporarily after thousands of Australian-led multi-national troops arrived in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste.

Street-gang fighting, rivalry among the political leaders, and rebellion of security forces are among the problems facing the nation.

The new president also said that he wants to create prosperity and combat poverty in the country.

"The president can also have an important voice to speak out for the poorer. I want more budget to help the widows and the youth, because the country can not expect me to restore peace and stability while denying the people," he said.

With his strong link with the international community, it is easier for Horta to invite foreign investors to invest in the newly-established nation when stability is restored.

With revenues of about 100 million U.S. dollars from oil and possible additional 200 million U.S. dollars from gas per year in the next three or six years, Horta could start to build infrastructure and to reduce poverty and the serious unemployment problem.

The economy of Timor-Leste might surge this year as the Asian Development Bank predicted a 30 percent growth for the country.

The international support to Timor-Leste would continue, according to Jose Javier Pomes Ruis, the chief observer of the European Union mission to the presidential election here.

Ruis said that Timor-Leste gets the support due to its highest poverty in the world, and the necessity to solve its crisis in order to help it develop into a democratic country.

Source: Xinhua