Jose Ramos-Horta, the President of East Timor (pictured above left), is in a critical condition after being shot by rebel soldiers while at his home in Dili.
Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado died in the attack and another soldier is thought to be seriously injured.
Ramos-Horta was airlifted to Australia after the incident, which took place at approximately 7am local time.
He is currently in an induced coma in a Darwin hospital in Dili where his condition is described as ‘serious but stable,’ Doctors treating Ramos-Horta said they hoped he would make a “very good recovery” after surgery.
Dr Len Notaras, manager of the Royal Darwin Hospital, told the Associated Press: “The abdominal injury is very straightforward, but there are some concern about his chest injuries.
“His vital signs are all very stable and I understand that before he was sedated he was speaking in a very clear frame of mind.”
East Timor’s Prime Minister, Xanana Gusamo (pictured above right), was also targeted in a separate attack but was not harmed.
Following the attack the Prime Minister declared that the country was in a state of emergency, introducing a curfew between 8pm and 6am and imposing a ban on gatherings and protests.
Mr Gusamo said of the attack: “I consider this incident a coup attempt against the state…and it failed. This government won’t fall because of this.”
The small south-east Asian nation was granted independence from Indonesia in 2002 after what was described as a ‘heroic struggle’ by the Australian Prime Minister.
Gusamo and Ramos-Horta are credited by many for leading the country out of Indonesia’s brutal 25-year occupation.
