Man who allegedly shot East Timor's president in police custody

Associated Press ,  Dili   |  Sun, 03/02/2008 3:45 PM  |  World

The man who allegedly shot and critically wounded East Timor's president last month was in custody Sunday after surrendering to police, military officials said.

Amaro da Costa turned himself in without a fight late Saturday, anding over two automatic weapons and some ammunition, Lt. Col. Filomeno Paixao told reporters in the capital, Dili.

The ex-policeman allegedly shot President Jose Ramos-Horta outside his home on Feb. 11, two military officials told The ssociated Press, citing several witness accounts. They spoke on ondition of anonymity because a police investigation was ongoing.

Ramos-Horta is recovering from multiple rounds of surgery in an Australian hospital, while Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao escaped unharmed during a separate ambush on his motorcade the same day.

The attacks - which highlighted the nation's volatility just six years after declaring independence - were the culmination of a bitter dispute between hundreds of renegade troops like da Costa and the government.

Da Costa told reporters Sunday he "was involved" in the "incident" at Ramos-Horta's residence, but refused to elaborate.

"I will explain the details at the Attorney General's office," said Da Costa. It is fairly common in Southeast Asia for suspects to be allowed to speak to the media.

The tiny nation broke violently from Indonesia following 24 years of brutal occupation in 1999. It declared independence three years later after a brief period of U.N. administration.

The euphoria of self-determination, however, was shattered in 2006 when police and army forces disintegrated into warring factions and the government collapsed amid widespread looting, arson and gang warfare.

At least 37 people were killed and 155,000 others driven from their homes before thousands of foreign police and soldiers returned to restore calm.

Ramos-Horta and Gusmao, revered icons of resistance during Indonesian rule, became president and prime minister in elections last year.

Da Costa was among hundreds of rebel troops who fled to the hills after the unrest in 2006, along with commander Alfredo Reinado, who was shot and killed during the attack at Ramos-Horta's home.(**)

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