Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is visiting East Timor to provide support to the fledgling country following assassination attempts earlier this week against the president and prime minister. Australia has also sent additional troops to the country to provide security and look for suspects in the attacks.
President Jose Ramos-Horta is recovering after being shot by gunmen outside his home on Monday. His guards killed a wanted militant leader, Alfredo Reinado, during the attack. An hour later, gunmen opened fired on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, but he escaped unhurt.
East Timor declared a state of emergency, fearing an outbreak of violence following the attacks. But so far there has been calm. The attacks underscored the nation's problems six years after it formally proclaimed independence from Indonesia.
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