Australian troops backed by helicopters today launched a manhunt for suspects in the attacks on East Timor’s top leaders.

Prosecutors in East Timor prepared arrest warrants today for 18 rebel soldiers allegedly involved in assassination attempts against the president and prime minister, while foreign troops boosted security amid fears of more unrest.

EAST TIMOR President Jose Ramos-Horta was shot and seriously wounded yesterday by rebel soldiers in an assassination attempt that plunged the fledgling nation into a fresh crisis.

The president of East Timor was seriously ill in an Australian hospital today after being shot during a failed coup.

Rebel soldiers shot and badly wounded East Timor's president and opened fire on the prime minister in what was said to be a failed coup in the recently-independent nation.

Australia’s foreign minister today became the highest-level foreign official to visit East Timor since it installed a new government.

Former resistance fighter Xanana Gusmao was sworn in as East Timor’s prime minister today as violence by supporters of the party shut out of the new government entered a third day.

Hundreds of young men supporting rival political parties clashed in East Timor’s capital today, the final day of campaigning for next week’s presidential elections.

Nobel Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta became East Timor’s new prime minister today, the president said, announcing the formation of a new government following months of violence and political instability.

Thousands of supporters of East Timor’s ousted prime minister rallied in the capital today amid a massive security lockdown by foreign peacekeepers.

Gangs hurled rocks at a camp housing refugees and torched buildings in East Timor’s capital today, as fresh violence erupted between supporters and opponents of former prime minister Mari Alkatiri.

East Timor’s president will appoint a caretaker government to replace the Cabinet of the prime minister, whose resignation appeared to ease months of months of unrest in Asia’s newest nation, a senior adviser said today.

East Timor’s leaders were trying to decide on a new prime minister today following the resignation of Mari Alkatiri, raising hopes for an end to months of political paralysis and violence in Asia’s newest nation.

East Timor’s embattled prime minister announced his resignation today, triggering celebrations in the violence-scarred capital and raising hopes for an end to weeks of political turmoil and unrest.

East Timor’s president said he would decide whether to resign later today after hearing whether the country’s ruling party had agreed to sack the prime minister.

EAST Timor’s president backed off a threat to resign yesterday, telling thousands of flag-waving supporters he would not abandon them as the country searched for a solution to weeks of political turmoil and bloody street battles.

East Timor’s president backed off a threat to resign today, telling thousands of flag-waving supporters he would not abandon them as the country searched for a solution to weeks of political turmoil and bloody street battles.

East Timor’s president was reconsidering his threat to resign, a Roman Catholic bishop said after meeting the popular leader today, as protesters demanding the resignation took to the streets, raising fears of fresh violence.

The commander of rebels in a conflict with East Timor’s government said the insurgents would hand over weapons to international peacekeepers today, after being asked to disarm by President Xanana Gusmao.

About 2,000 protesters calling for the resignation of East Timor’s prime minister cruised around parliament in a convoy of horn-blaring trucks and motorcycles today, hours after mobs set buildings on fire and looted a warehouse filled with farm supplies.

EAST Timor President Xanana Gusmao made an emotional plea for peace after weeks of violence, as the tiny country’s rebel leader pressed him to oust the unpopular prime minister.

Scores more foreign soldiers today landed in East Timor to bolster a force struggling to stop mob violence in the capital.

INDEPENDENCE hero and former guerrilla fighter President Xanana Gusmao yesterday urged warring factions to end the violence ripping through East Timor’s capital.

Independence hero and former guerrilla fighter President Xanana Gusmao today urged warring factions to end violence ripping through East Timor’s capital, while ex-soldiers whose rebellion triggered the broad mayhem offered peace talks.

Peacekeepers from Australia and New Zealand were deployed to East Timor today to help restore calm after gun battles between the tiny nation’s military and disgruntled ex-soldiers killed two people and injured nine.

A report on Indonesia’s 24-year occupation of East Timor blames over 100,000 deaths and massive human rights violations including starvation and the use of napalm primarily on Indonesian security forces, Timorese officials said today.

East Timor's president marked the tiny country's third anniversary today with a sombre speech warning that patience and sacrifice are still needed in the face of a moribund economy, stifling poverty and a declining UN presence.

Xanana Gusmao, the President of East Timor, has arrived in Ireland on a two-day official visit.

Former guerrilla leader Jose Alexandre ‘Xanana’ Gusmao has taken an unassailable lead in East Timor’s first presidential elections since achieving independence from Indonesia.

Xanana Gusmao’s expected landslide victory in East Timor’s first presidential elections completes the transformation of the charismatic poet and guerrilla leader to a respected statesman.

Election officials today began counting votes from East Timor’s first presidential election, as political leaders predicted a landslide victory for former resistance leader Xanana Gusmao.

East Timor’s independence leader Xanana Gusmao travelled to the neighbouring Indonesian province of West Timor today in another effort to persuade about 50,000 remaining refugees to return home.

East Timorese freedom fighter Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao is to run for the presidency of the new nation when it gains full independence next year.