Rebel soldiers of the Timor Leste Defence Force invaded the homes of the President and Prime Minister of East Timor on 11 February 2008, leading to the shooting and serious wounding of President José Ramos-Horta and the shooting up of the car of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. Two rebel soldiers, including leader Alfredo Reinado, were shot dead by presidential security forces. Reinado had deserted the military in 2006 along with 600 others after complaining of regional discrimination in promotions, sparking the 2006 East Timorese crisis. The attacks have been variously interpreted as attempted assassinations, attempted kidnappings and an attempted coup d'état. The rebels' intentions remain unknown.[1]
After being hospitalised in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, for more than a month, Ramos-Horta was discharged from hospital on 19 March but remained in Darwin until April for continued treatment.[2]
- ^ Ansley, Greg (16 February 2008). "Young nation on knife-edge". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
What the rebels' intention was remains unknown.
- ^ "East Timor president leaves Australian hospital after five weeks of treatment", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 19 March 2008. Archived 3 January 2013 at archive.today