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East Timor president shot at home | East Timor president shot at home |
(10 minutes later) | |
East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta is in a "serious but stable" condition after being shot by rebel soldiers, the Australian prime minister says. | |
Mr Ramos-Horta was shot in the stomach in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home. | Mr Ramos-Horta was shot in the stomach in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home. |
Alfredo Reinado, a renegade soldier who had threatened the government, was killed by guards during the attack. | Alfredo Reinado, a renegade soldier who had threatened the government, was killed by guards during the attack. |
Gunmen also attacked Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao but he was not hurt. He called the incidents an attempted coup by Reinado and appealed for calm. | |
Mr Ramos-Horta is to be flown to the Australian city of Darwin for further treatment. | Mr Ramos-Horta is to be flown to the Australian city of Darwin for further treatment. |
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the "attempt to assassinate the democratically elected leadership of a close friend and neighbour of Australia's is a deeply disturbing development". | Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the "attempt to assassinate the democratically elected leadership of a close friend and neighbour of Australia's is a deeply disturbing development". |
Canberra says it will send more peacekeepers to East Timor in response to the attack. | Canberra says it will send more peacekeepers to East Timor in response to the attack. |
'Under control' | 'Under control' |
The attack on Mr Ramos-Horta happened early on Monday morning. | The attack on Mr Ramos-Horta happened early on Monday morning. |
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 Profile: Jose Ramos-Horta | 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 Profile: Jose Ramos-Horta |
Two cars drove past the president's house on the outskirts of the capital, Dili, and shooting began, army spokesman Major Domingos de Camara said. | Two cars drove past the president's house on the outskirts of the capital, Dili, 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. |
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. |
An aircraft has been sent from Australia to take him to Darwin for further treatment. | An aircraft has been sent from Australia to take him to Darwin for further treatment. |
Peacekeepers have stepped up security in Dili | Peacekeepers have stepped up security in Dili |
Shots were also fired at the prime minister's car, but he was not hurt. | Shots were also fired at the prime minister's car, but he was not hurt. |
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," the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying. | |
"This government will guarantee security and development will continue." | |
Security had been tightened in Dili, UN officials said. | Security had been tightened in Dili, UN officials said. |
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 was accused of being involved in several shooting incidents during the violence and charged with murder. | Reinado 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, had since been holed up in the mountains, refusing government pleas to surrender. | But he escaped from jail and, with a group of followers, had since been holed up in the mountains, refusing government pleas to surrender. |
His continued stand-off with the government had led to fears of renewed violence. | His continued stand-off with the government had led to fears of renewed violence. |
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. |