Presidential run-off vote tests E. Timor democracy

East Timor chooses a new president in a run-off vote Monday, as the young democracy prepares to celebrate its first decade of independence and bid goodbye to UN forces. Either Francisco Guterres "Lu Olo" or Taur Matan Ruak, both heroes of the nation's 24-year war against Indonesian occupation, will replace Jose Ramos-Horta, the Nobel-laureate who trailed in third place in the March 17 first round. While the presidency is largely ceremonial, it enjoyed a high profile under Ramos-Horta, and the elections are the first in a series of landmark events this year for the half-island nation of 1.1 million people. In May, East Timor will celebrate 10 years of independence, which came after three years of UN administration. On July 7, voters will choose a new government in a general election. Ameerah Haq, the UN Secretary General's special representative for East Timor, was reported as saying last week that UN peacekeepers, stationed since 1999, would pull out as planned at year's end if both elections remain calm. The first round of voting was peaceful. But ahead of the run-off at least two homes of political supporters or campaign organisers have been torched and a number of campaign vehicles attacked. On Friday, about 100 people reportedly pelted stones at Ruak's headquarters in Dili. Deputy police commander Alfonso de Jesus said that despite the incidents he expected the elections to go smoothly.