Jose Ramos-Horta

The sources said that the Jose Ramos-Horta the President of East Timor, is undergoing emergency surgery after his house in the capital Dili came under an attack. A renegade soldier, Alfredo Reinado, was shot dead by the president’s guards. The president was shot in the stomach during the shoot-out.

Last November, Alfredo Reinado had threatened to use force against the government. He had been indicted for his alleged role in fighting between rebel troops & police in 2006.

Major Domingos de Camara an army spokesman said that the attack happened at around 07:00 am on Monday (22:00 pm GMT on Sunday), when two cars drove past the president’s house & shooting began. One soldier was also reported to be seriously wounded.

The president was taken to a hospital run by the Australian military in Dili, & is now undergoing surgery. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening, but he is due to be flown to the Australian city of Darwin later for further treatment.

The sources said that the house of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was also attacked, but that no one was hurt in that incident.