Australian peacekeepers forced 100 youths away from the camp, which houses hundreds of people who fled clashes last month.
Sporadic gunshots were heard and 20 houses and a half dozen shops torched elsewhere, sending black clouds of smoke rising over the city.
Alkatiri appeared on national television Tuesday -- one day after he resigned under pressure from street protesters and President Xanana Gusmao -- urging 2,000 supporters who gathered on Dili's outskirts to descend on the city in coming days. The former leader, who has been summoned for questioning on allegations he formed political hit squads, accused his opponents of instigating the unrest that has left at least 30 people dead and sent nearly 150,000 people fleeing their homes.
"They destroyed Dili town, burned, looted and killed our people, and then they accuse me of being a terrorist, communist and a killer," he said in his first public comments since stepping down.
Though Alkatiri said he stepped down willingly to help restore order, television footage of his remarks rallied supporters and angered opponents, who threw rocks at the national television station and burned down several homes of leaders of his ruling Fretilin party.
Gusmao released a statement Tuesday saying he would take "immediate steps toward forming a new government." Another option, he said, was dissolving the parliament and holding early elections.
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