SYDNEY (AFP) — Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Sunday suggested East Timor should reconsider its policy of negotiating with rebel fighters after their botched attempt to assassinate the president.
President Jose Ramos-Horta was shot several times during a clash with rebels at his Dili home on February 11 in which rebel leader Alfredo Reinado was killed. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao escaped unharmed from a separate attack.
Smith said Australian troops had stumbled on Reinado during a routine patrol a few weeks ago but withdrew from a confrontation because East Timor had wanted to pursue talks with the rebels.
"Warning shots were fired by Reinado and his men and the Australian contingent sensibly withdrew in accordance with that requirement of the East Timorese government," the foreign minister told Australian television.
"President Ramos-Horta himself was very strongly of the view they should try to get a negotiated settlement.
"That's something now the East Timorese government may wish to reflect upon, given what's occurred."
Ramos-Horta is in a serious but stable condition at the Royal Darwin Hospital where doctors have said they are hopeful he will make a full recovery.
The Nobel peace laureate, who is sedated and on a ventilator, has had several operations so far and is likely to undergo further surgery on Tuesday, his spokesman Luke Gosling said.
"He's likely to have another operation this week to do some more work on his wounds," Gosling told the Australian Associated Press.
"It's likely to be Tuesday but that's not confirmed yet."
The attempt on Ramos-Horta's life prompted Australia to boost its troop deployment to its northern neighbour, while East Timor's Foreign Minister Zacharias Da Costa visited Darwin to meet with Ramos-Horta and Smith.
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