Gusmao Visits Ramos-Horta in Darwin Hospital

Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao visited President Jose Ramos-Horta in Darwin in north Australia on Monday, and briefed the president on the efforts to track down the gunmen who attacked them in Dili.

The two men met for the first time since both were targeted by rebels in assassination attempts last month.

Ramos-Horta was seriously wounded outside his home in Dili on February 11 and transferred to Darwin for medical treatment. Gusmao escaped unharmed from an ambush of his motorcade the same day.

"I came as a gesture of solidarity," the Australian Associated Press quoted Gusmao as saying after he met the president.

"We are very glad and happy to see the president walking around and making a good recovery."

So far, arrest warrants have been issued against 17 people suspected of involvement in the attacks, including the man who took command of rebel soldiers after the death of Reinado, Gastao Salsinha.

"We hope that this week will be the end of this operation," Gusmao said of the mission to track down the rebels.

Ramos-Horta has undergone five rounds of surgery and faces a sixth operation to re-attempt part of a skin graft that failed to take.

2008-03-17

More story

.Gurus Place China Bets
.China Stock Bull Getting Older, But Won't Die
.China's Bid to Tame Economy Begins a Real Estate Bust
.'Made in India' Rising to Challenge China: Report
.The Tao of Junk