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East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta was being flown to Darwin, Australia, to be treated for gunshot wounds after a Feb. 11 assassination attempt. With the East Timorese government in limbo, this could be an opportunity for Australia to consolidate its power in the region.

East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta suffered two gunshot wounds Feb. 11 when rebels fired on his home in a pre-dawn drive-by attack. Ramos-Horta, who was listed in stable condition following emergency surgery at an Australian military base in the capital, Dili, was to be evacuated to Darwin, Australia, an East Timorese official reportedly said. Alfredo Reinado — a political fugitive and the primary source of unrest in an otherwise stable East Timor — was killed when the president’s guards returned fire.

Reinado’s killing and Ramos-Horta’s shooting provide an opportunity for Australia to strengthen its hold over East Timor — which forms a key part of Canberra’s efforts to extend its influence to the states scattered along its periphery. Other key states include Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.


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