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Australia pledges E Timor support Australia pledges E Timor support
(about 2 hours later)
Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says his government will do all it can to safeguard democracy in East Timor after attacks on its president and PM.Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says his government will do all it can to safeguard democracy in East Timor after attacks on its president and PM.
On his second visit to East Timor in only two months, Mr Rudd said his support was "absolutely rock solid".On his second visit to East Timor in only two months, Mr Rudd said his support was "absolutely rock solid".
President Jose Ramos-Horta was seriously hurt in Monday's shooting, and is being treated in Australia.President Jose Ramos-Horta was seriously hurt in Monday's shooting, and is being treated in Australia.
Canberra has sent extra peacekeepers to Dili, where Mr Rudd's immediate concern will be to assess the security threat. Canberra deployed an additional 350 peacekeepers to Dili in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.
Mr Rudd, who approved the deployment of an additional 350 Australian troops in the wake of the attacks, is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, acting President Fernando de Araujo, and the head of the parliamentary opposition. In a three-hour visit, Mr Rudd held talks with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who narrowly escaped injury when gunmen ambushed his car on Monday.
Australia sent additional peacekeepers after the attacksBut the BBC's Jonathan Head in Dili says Mr Rudd has a difficult diplomatic path to tread, as many East Timorese are suspicious and resentful of Australia's high-profile role in their country. "The purpose of my visit today is to state in clear and loud terms that Australia will stand shoulder to shoulder into the future in the defence of East Timor's democratic system of government," Mr Rudd told a press conference.
Mr Rudd's priority will be to ascertain the remaining security threat, he says. Australia sent additional peacekeepers after the attacks
Our correspondent says he is also likely to press the government to start addressing its huge long-term challenges; mass unemployment, the thousands of displaced families living in squalid camps, and the failure so far to spend any oil revenues on badly-needed infrastructure. "Australia is here for the good times, the bad times and the difficult times."
Australian-led international forces are now combing the hills behind Dili for the remaining rebels believed to be responsible for the twin attack. Australian troops - who now number about 1,000 - would remain in East Timor for as long as they were needed, he said.
Past grievances The two leaders also discussed East Timor's long-term economic challenges - such as its weak infrastructure and soaring unemployment.
A state of emergency declared by Mr Gusmao, who narrowly escaped injury in the ambush, remains in place. The parliamentary opposition has stood by the government. "Ensuring young people across Timor-Leste (East Timor) have a job is for business, but also this country's long-term stability," Mr Rudd said.
Emotional scenes at the funeral of Alfredo Reinado on ThursdayIn a BBC interview on Thursday, one of the rebels involved in the attacks, Gastao Salsinha, denied attempting to assassinate the two high profile figures. Mr Gusmao thanked Australia for its rapid response to Monday's events and its faith in the country's development.
He said security personnel for President Ramos-Horta started the fire fight that killed rebel chief Alfredo Reinado. "Our nation is a proud nation," he said. "A bullet can wound the president but can never penetrate the values of democracy."
Speaking from hiding, Mr Salsinha said he had now taken over as rebel leader. UN troops have been in East Timor since a wave of street violence in mid-2006. Rebel leader
A group of rebel soldiers with grievances dating back to that unrest is thought to have carried out Monday's attacks. The situation in Dili has remained calm since Monday, despite fears of protests. A state of emergency declared by Mr Gusmao remains in place.
Emotional scenes at the funeral of Alfredo Reinado on Thursday
Several arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the attacks, which have been attributed to a group of rebels soldiers with grievances that date from a wave of violence in mid-2006.
Australian-led international forces are now combing the hills behind the capital for the remaining rebels.
Their leader, Alfredo Reinado, was killed in the attack on Mr Ramos-Horta's residence.
But in a BBC interview on Thursday, one of the rebels involved in the attacks, Gastao Salsinha, denied attempting to assassinate the two top leaders.
He said security personnel for President Ramos-Horta started the fire fight that killed Reinado.
Speaking from hiding, Mr Salsinha said he had now taken over as rebel leader.
East Timor won independence in 2002 after decades under Indonesian rule.East Timor won independence in 2002 after decades under Indonesian rule.