By Heda Bayron
Hong Kong
East Timor's President Shot; Australia Sends More Peacekeepers
East Timor's president, Jose Ramos-Horta, is in serious condition hours after a daring assassination attempt that
shocked his tiny Southeast Asian nation. As VOA's Heda Bayron reports, security has been tightened throughout the
country and Australia is sending more peacekeepers.
East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta is seen on a stretcher as he is transfered from an ambulance to the Royal Darwin
Hospital Emergency Department after arrival in Darwin, 11 Feb 2008.
President Ramos-Horta was airlifted to the northern Australian city of Darwin Monday for emergency medical treatment
after rebel soldiers shot him in the stomach during an early morning attack at his residence.
Doctors in Darwin say the president is in an induced coma and on a ventilator. But they say his condition is stable.
Gunmen also shot at a vehicle carrying Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao. He escaped unhurt. In a news conference, Mr. Gusmao
promised to restore security to the troubled nation. He said the government will not tolerate any armed groups
attempting a coup.
The assassination attempts shocked the fledgling nation and some residents feared violence would break out again. The
United Nations spokeswoman in East Timor, Alison Cooper, says the security situation has so far been stable.
"The atmosphere is tense but there have not been any major incidents reported after this morning's shooting," said
Cooper.
The leader of the coordinated assassination attempts, Alfredo Reinado, was killed during the shootout. The fugitive
former military police chief has been blamed for being behind deadly fighting between rebel troops and police in 2006.
That violence drove thousands of people from their homes and prompted intervention by peacekeepers from Australia, New
Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says his country will send additional military and police to reinforce its
800-strong contingent to the International Stabilization Force.
"Australia will stand resolutely behind East Timor at this time of crisis in their democracy. The International
Stabilization Force have already secured key buildings and deployed more broadly throughout Dili and increased their
presence through East Timor's districts," said Mr. Rudd. "The security situation is currently assessed as stable but
this could change quickly as events unfold."
New Zealand says it has also put additional troops on standby.
Mr. Ramos-Horta was a prominent figure in the campaign against Indonesian rule, which ended with a violence-marred vote
for independence in 1999. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.
ENDS