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Shot East Timor leader 'critical' | Shot East Timor leader 'critical' |
(9 minutes later) | |
East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta is in a critical condition and has been put into an induced coma, after being shot by rebel soldiers. | East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta is in a critical condition and has been put into an induced coma, after being shot by rebel soldiers. |
Mr Ramos-Horta was shot in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home, and later airlifted to Australia for treatment. | Mr Ramos-Horta was shot in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home, and later airlifted to Australia for treatment. |
Later Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao declared a 48-hour state of emergency, including a night-time curfew. | Later Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao declared a 48-hour state of emergency, including a night-time curfew. |
Mr Gusmao, who was targeted in a separate incident but was unharmed, described the events as a coup attempt. | Mr Gusmao, who was targeted in a separate incident but was unharmed, described the events as a coup attempt. |
Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado died in the attack on Mr Ramos-Horta. | Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado died in the attack on Mr Ramos-Horta. |
Australian PM Kevin Rudd pledged to send more peacekeepers to East Timor. | Australian PM Kevin Rudd pledged to send more peacekeepers to East Timor. |
He said the "attempt to assassinate the democratically elected leadership of a close friend and neighbour of Australia's is a deeply disturbing development". | He said the "attempt to assassinate the democratically elected leadership of a close friend and neighbour of Australia's is a deeply disturbing development". |
'Under control' | 'Under control' |
The attack on Mr Ramos-Horta happened at about 0700 on Monday (2200 GMT Sunday). | The attack on Mr Ramos-Horta happened at about 0700 on Monday (2200 GMT Sunday). |
JOSE RAMOS-HORTA Founder of East Timor's independence movementSpent 24 years in exile after Indonesia invadedWon Nobel Peace Prize in 1996Former journalist, fluent in five languages href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7238541.stm">Timorese shock at shooting class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7238568.stm">In pictures: Timor leader shotProfile: Jose Ramos-Horta | |
Two cars drove past the president's house on the outskirts of the capital, Dili. | Two cars drove past the president's house on the outskirts of the capital, Dili. |
He was outside the compound at the time. He apparently tried to return home after hearing gunshots but was shot on the way in, according to UN officials. | He was outside the compound at the time. He apparently tried to return home after hearing gunshots but was shot on the way in, according to UN officials. |
One soldier was also reported to be seriously wounded. | One soldier was also reported to be seriously wounded. |
Mr Ramos-Horta was taken to a hospital run by the Australian military in Dili, where he was stabilised. | Mr Ramos-Horta was taken to a hospital run by the Australian military in Dili, where he was stabilised. |
He was later evacuated to Darwin for further treatment, and put in intensive care on a ventilator. | He was later evacuated to Darwin for further treatment, and put in intensive care on a ventilator. |
He received three gunshot wounds - one in the stomach and two in the chest - and his condition is described as "serious but stable". | He received three gunshot wounds - one in the stomach and two in the chest - and his condition is described as "serious but stable". |
But the Darwin hospital's general manager told AFP news agency he was hopeful for a full recovery. | But the Darwin hospital's general manager told AFP news agency he was hopeful for a full recovery. |
"The fact that he is in a stable condition is a good sign that we should see some reasonable outcomes for him," Dr Len Notaras said. | "The fact that he is in a stable condition is a good sign that we should see some reasonable outcomes for him," Dr Len Notaras said. |
"He's not fighting for his life but his injuries are extremely serious." | "He's not fighting for his life but his injuries are extremely serious." |
'Failed coup' | 'Failed coup' |
Shots were also fired at Mr Gusmao's convoy, shortly after the attack on Mr Ramos-Horta, but no-one was not hurt. | Shots were also fired at Mr Gusmao's convoy, shortly after the attack on Mr Ramos-Horta, but no-one was not hurt. |
Peacekeepers have stepped up security in Dili | Peacekeepers have stepped up security in Dili |
The attack happened after the prime minister had left his house. The vehicles came under heavy fire, and one reportedly left the road and rolled over. | The attack happened after the prime minister had left his house. The vehicles came under heavy fire, and one reportedly left the road and rolled over. |
Mr Gusmao told a press briefing that the situation was under control. | Mr Gusmao told a press briefing that the situation was under control. |
"I consider this incident a coup attempt against the state by Reinado and it failed," he said. | "I consider this incident a coup attempt against the state by Reinado and it failed," he said. |
"This government will guarantee security and development will continue." | "This government will guarantee security and development will continue." |
He later announced a state of emergency, including a curfew between 2000 and 0600 and a ban on gatherings and protests. | He later announced a state of emergency, including a curfew between 2000 and 0600 and a ban on gatherings and protests. |
Dili is reported to be quiet and heavily patrolled by local and international security forces. | Dili is reported to be quiet and heavily patrolled by local and international security forces. |
But the BBC's Andrew Harding says officials are concerned that there could be fighting between rival groups. | But the BBC's Andrew Harding says officials are concerned that there could be fighting between rival groups. |
Unrest fear | Unrest fear |
An Australian-led UN force has been in charge of security in the capital since mid-2006. | An Australian-led UN force has been in charge of security in the capital since mid-2006. |
Peacekeepers were invited into the country to quell violent clashes between police and the military, triggered by then Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri's decision to sack a third of the armed forces. | Peacekeepers were invited into the country to quell violent clashes between police and the military, triggered by then Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri's decision to sack a third of the armed forces. |
Reinado had been indicted over the 2006 unrest in East Timor | Reinado had been indicted over the 2006 unrest in East Timor |
At least 37 people were killed in several weeks of fighting and more than 150,000 were forced to flee their homes. | At least 37 people were killed in several weeks of fighting and more than 150,000 were forced to flee their homes. |
Reinado, a former naval commander, was accused of being involved in several shooting incidents during the violence and charged with murder. | Reinado, a former naval commander, was accused of being involved in several shooting incidents during the violence and charged with murder. |
But he escaped from jail and, with a group of followers, holed himself up in the mountains, refusing government pleas to surrender. | But he escaped from jail and, with a group of followers, holed himself up in the mountains, refusing government pleas to surrender. |
His continued stand-off with the government had led to fears of renewed violence in what is one of the world's newest and poorest nations. | His continued stand-off with the government had led to fears of renewed violence in what is one of the world's newest and poorest nations. |
Mr Ramos-Horta is a political veteran. | Mr Ramos-Horta is a political veteran. |
He spent 24 years in exile after Indonesian troops invaded East Timor in 1975, leading the country's bid for independence from overseas and winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. | He spent 24 years in exile after Indonesian troops invaded East Timor in 1975, leading the country's bid for independence from overseas and winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. |
He served in the more powerful role of prime minister in the wake of the 2006 violence, before elections last year which saw him switch roles with then President Xanana Gusmao. | He served in the more powerful role of prime minister in the wake of the 2006 violence, before elections last year which saw him switch roles with then President Xanana Gusmao. |
East Timor gained independence in 2002. | East Timor gained independence in 2002. |
Do you live in East Timor? What's your reaction to this story? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Do you live in East Timor? What's your reaction to this story? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |