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East Timor president shot at home | East Timor president shot at home |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The President of East Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta, has undergone emergency surgery after he was shot by rebel soldiers at home in the capital, Dili. | |
The president was in a stable condition after being shot in the stomach in a pre-dawn attack, his spokesman said. | |
Alfredo Reinado, a renegade soldier who had previously threatened to use force against the government, was killed by presidential guards in the attack. | |
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao described the shooting as an attack on the state. | |
The attack happened at around 0700 on Monday (2200GMT Sunday), when two cars drove past the president's house and shooting began, army spokesman Major Domingos de Camara said. | The attack happened at around 0700 on Monday (2200GMT Sunday), when two cars drove past the president's house and shooting began, army spokesman Major Domingos de Camara said. |
One soldier was also reported to be seriously wounded. | One soldier was also reported to be seriously wounded. |
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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/378959.stm">Profile: Jose Ramos-Horta | |
Mr Ramos-Horta was taken to a hospital run by the Australian military in Dili. | |
"The condition of the president is stable. He's got a small injury to his abdomen," spokesman Jose Turquel said. | |
"He's being taken care of at the Australian hospital right now and we may move him down to Australia for further assistance if needed." | |
There were also unconfirmed reports that the house of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was attacked, but that no one was hurt in that incident. | |
Mr Gusmao told a press briefing that the situation was under control. | |
"Even though the state has been attacked by an armed group and the president was wounded, the state is in control of stability... The current situation is proceeding normally and is under control," he said. | |
Unrest fear | Unrest fear |
An Australian-led UN force has been in charge of security in the capital since mid-2006. | |
Reinado has been indicted over the 2006 unrest in East Timor | Reinado has been indicted over the 2006 unrest in East Timor |
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 for desertion. | |
At least 37 people were killed in several weeks of fighting and more than 150,000 were forced to flee their homes. | |
Reinado is accused of being involved in several shooting incidents during the violence. He and a group of followers have since been holed up in the mountains, refusing government pleas to surrender. | |
Last month the International Crisis Group warned that there was a risk of more civil unrest, unless the police and military were reformed. | Last month the International Crisis Group warned that there was a risk of more civil unrest, unless the police and military were reformed. |
Mr Ramos-Horta served as prime minister in the wake of the violence, before elections last year which saw him switch roles with then President Xanana Gusmao. | |
He had 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. | |
East Timor gained independence in 2002. | East Timor gained independence in 2002. |