DILI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people staged rallies outside the Presidential Palace here on Monday, demanding the resignation of Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and asking President Xanana Gusmao to take over the government.

    "Mari Alkatiri must resign," chanted the protesters outside the building, where an emergency cabinet meeting is being held to find out solution for the ongoing crisis in the country. The prime minister failed to solve all the problems in the country, said Mario Dashnao, one of the coordinators of the demonstration, adding "We want President Xanana Gusmao to take the lead in the government."

    People were disappointed with the decision made by Alkatiri on the settlement of the clashes on April 28 when houses were burnt down and dozens of people were killed, he said.

    Some protesters accused the prime minister of never struggling along with the people of Timor-Leste in their pursuit of independence in the past and being involved in corruption cases during his governance.

    "Most of the winners of the project tenders are Alkatiri's relatives," said Zorze Costa, a Timor-Leste's youth. Another group of young protesters asked the government to reform the military force (F-FDTL) and strengthen the national police.

    Alkatiri was also blamed for shifting all members of the country's constitutional board to parliament, without an election, according to the protesters.

    Tension has been worsening since recent days as some 600 soldiers sacked from the military in April. At least 23 people have been killed and dozens wounded since the open fighting began in the past weeks. Enditem