Thousands of East Timorese have lined up to cast votes in a general election in a bid to end months of political deadlock in the Southeast Asian nation's parliament.
This month's election campaign has been marred by sporadic violence, though Timor Leste has been largely peaceful in recent years following recurrent bouts of political instability it suffered after independence from Indonesia in 2002.
The 2017 parliamentary election produced no clear winner, with the Fretilin party of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri winning just 0.2 per cent more votes than the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, the party of independence hero Xanana Gusmao.
Former president and leader of the the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) Xanana Gusmao shows his inked finger. Source: AAP
Timor Leste President Francisco "Lu Olo" Guterres dissolved parliament earlier this year and called for fresh elections.
Former president Gusmao cast his vote in the capital Dili on Saturday.
"I would say that (this election) will mean the end of this deadlock," he told reporters.
Secretary General of the Fretilin party Mari Alkatiri. Source: AAP
"We will only accept the result if we see that there are no irregularities, no electoral fraud."
Polls close at 3pm (4pm AEST) and unofficial results are expected to come in by the early evening. Official results are likely to be announced next week.
