CANBERRA, Feb 11 (Bernama) — Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced here Monday that he would send more troops and police to Timor-Leste after the shooting attack on the country’s President Jose Ramos-Horta early Monday morning, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
Rudd said Australia would boost its Australian Defence Force deployment to Timor-Leste, where about 800 Australian troops are already on peacekeeping duties.
The prime minister told a press conference that he was deeply shocked by the military attacks on Ramos-Horta, and the failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
Jose Ramos-Horta was shot in the stomach during an attack at his home by the rebels early Monday. He was flown into Darwin, the capital city of Australia’s Northern Territories for further medical treatment.
Ramos-Horta’s condition was “very serious but stable” after the president was shot and wounded by rebels at his home in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, Rudd said.
“What we had, apparently, are coordinated attacks aimed at assassinating the democratically elected leadership of East Timor (Timor-Leste), a close friend and partner of Australia,” he said.