DILI, June 3 (Reuters) - A man was shot dead in East Timor on Sunday as tension rose during political campaigning ahead of East Timor's parliamentary elections later this month, police said.

The 35-year-old man, a supporter of the CNRT party led by former President Xanana Gusmao, was shot by an unknown assailant in Viqueque district in the east of the country, a police officer said by telephone.

On Saturday, CNRT supporters were attacked by rock-throwing activists from the ruling Fretilin party during campaigning in the same district, he said. Three people were hurt during the violence.

The officer said that CNRT supporters had sought refuge at a police station and in churches at one point.

Gusmao recently stepped down as president at the end of his first term to run for the more hands-on post of prime minister in June 30 parliamentary elections.

Interim Prime Minister Estanislau da Silva vowed last week to crack down on violence during campaigning.

A run-off presidential vote last month passed mainly peacefully, but sporadic outbreaks of often gang-related violence continue in the tiny country.

Divisions in East Timor's security forces led to riots last year that spun into deadly violence in which some 30 people died. Foreign troops were sent in to quell the violence.

Indonesia annexed East Timor in 1975 after long-time colonial power Portugal had set it free.

East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia in a violence-marred referendum in 1999. It became fully independent in 2002 after a period of U.N. administration.

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