DILI, Feb 11: East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta was seriously wounded on Monday by rebel soldiers in an assassination attempt that plunged the fledgling nation into a fresh crisis.

The Nobel peace laureate was airlifted to Australia for emergency treatment after being shot in a dawn gunbattle at his residence in which rebel leader Alfredo Reinado was killed, said Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

Gunmen also targeted the home of Mr Gusmao in coordinated attacks that prompted a state of emergency in the country where international forces remain on patrol after being deployed amid unrest in 2006.

After exploratory surgery at an Australian military hospital here, 58-year-old Ramos-Horta was rushed to the Australian city of Darwin.

“I am hopeful for his full recovery,” Royal Darwin Hospital general manager Len Notaras said. “He’s not fighting for his life but his injuries are extremely serious,” the doctor told AFP. “The next 24 to 48 hours will be a critical time for all of us.”

Mr Ramos-Horta had suffered two bullet wounds to the upper chest and one to the abdomen, Notaras said, adding that the president was heavily sedated but not on life support.

“He is in the process of recovery and is out of danger,” parliamentary speaker Fernando de Araujo said while on a visit to Lisbon.

Mr Gusmao declared that a state of emergency would be in force nationwide for at least 48 hours, with a curfew beginning at 8pm and people to be banned from conducting meetings or rallies.

The declaration must be formally approved by the acting head of state, first deputy speaker of parliament Vicente Guterres, but the curfew appeared to have come into force.—AFP