East Timor's independence hero Xanana Gusmao returns to power as prime minister

Xanana Gusmao, 77, became the nation’s first president between 2002 and 2007, and served as prime minister between 2007 and 2015. - Photo from The Jakarta Post/ANN

DILI, East Timor (AP): Former East Timor independence fighter Xanana Gusmao was sworn in on Saturday as prime minister of Asia’s youngest country after his party won the parliamentary election in May.

Crowd cheered as the former guerrilla leader traveled by motorcade to the presidential palace in Dili, the capital, where he and his members of Cabinet were sworn into office by President Jose Ramos-Horta, his fellow independence fighter during Indonesia's occupation.