12 sought in attacks in East Timor

East Timor prosecutors said today that they had issued arrest warrants for 12 suspects in attacks on the country’s top two leaders.

Atty. Gen. Longuinhos Monteiro told reporters in the capital, Dili, that five more warrants were likely. The names of the suspects were not released.

Nobel Peace Prize-winning President Jose Ramos-Horta was critically wounded by gunmen Monday outside his home. His guards killed a wanted militant leader during the attack.

An hour later, gunmen opened fired on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, but he escaped unhurt.

During a brief visit to the tiny nation, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the attacks were a “deep assault” on East Timor’s democracy.

Australia, with more than 1,000 troops and police officers in East Timor, is the largest contributor of foreign forces to the country.

“Australia stands as a friend of Timor Leste in good times and difficult times, and right now is a difficult time,” said Rudd, referring to the country by its local name.

East Timor declared a state of emergency in the wake of the attacks, which underscored its problems six years after it formally proclaimed independence from Indonesia.

Ramos-Horta, who was awarded the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against the Indonesian occupation, is being treated in the Australian city of Darwin for wounds to the upper body.

Doctors have performed several operations on the 58-year-old and expect him to make a full recovery.

On Thursday, supporters and family buried militant leader Alfredo Reinado, who was killed during the attack on Ramos-Horta.

Police are investigating whether the attacks were assassination attempts or part of a failed coup. There also has been speculation that Reinado intended to kidnap Ramos-Horta.