Emergency Rule Extended In East Timor

East Timor extended by 10 days a state of emergency imposed after assassination attempts on the president and the prime minister, as the body of a rebel leader slain in one of the attacks arrived home Wednesday to a hero's welcome.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao asked Parliament for the extension, saying it was "in the interests of the people" so they could "live in peace and normalcy" following Monday's shootings, which left President Jose Ramos-Horta critically wounded.

Lawmakers later agreed, with 30 votes in favor and 14 abstaining.

The emergency order bans demonstrations, gives police extended powers and imposes a nighttime curfew across the tiny nation.

The assassination attempts underscored the challenges facing East Timor, a country of 1 million people that has struggled to achieve stability after voting to break free from Indonesia in a U.N.-sponsored ballot in 2001.

Doctors said Ramos-Horta - who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent campaign against Indonesia's occupation - was stable and recovering well from gunshot wounds, but remained in "extremely serious" condition at an Australian hospital.

Ramos-Horta was attacked by around 10 men near his home as he returned from a morning walk, officials said. His guards fired back, killing rebel leader Alfredo Reinado and one of his followers.

An hour later, gunmen also attacked a car carrying Gusmao, but he escaped unhurt.

The bodies of Reinado and his follower were taken Wednesday under heavy police escort to Reinado's home, where hundreds of supporters and relatives wept and jostled to get a glimpse of them. His burial was due to take place Thursday, officials said.

The coffins were opened briefly, allowing mourners to see the faces of the bloodied corpses.

Men thumped on Reinado's coffin and chanted "Viva! Viva!" while waving photographs of their hero and crying.

"I accept his death with a heavy heart," said Reinado's uncle, Victor Alves. "I appeal to all the militants to accept his death and be peaceful."

Attorney General Longuinhos Monterio said prosecutors would soon issue arrest warrants for 18 suspects in the attacks. He said the evidence against the men was strong, but declined to give their names. No arrests have been made so far.

Analysts predicted Reinado's supporters might stage violent demonstrations, but the country has so far been calm. On Wednesday, Australian soldiers searched cars for weapons at checkpoints and armored U.N. vehicles guarded top politicians.

Reinado and his followers were blamed in part for a spasm of unrest in 2006 after they deserted the army, triggering clashes that killed 37 people and led to the collapse of the tiny nation's first post-independence government.

He had been charged with murder over the events, but enjoyed folk hero status among some disenchanted youth and people from the west of the country who complain that the central government discriminates against them.

"What we are going do now is try to get back our confidence after the loss of our commander, our teacher and our guide," said Joao Zito Marques, a 24-year-old student. "He was a good revolutionary struggling to find truth and justice."

Despite the outstanding charges, Ramos-Horta had met with Reinado on several occasions in recent months to try to persuade him to surrender.

East Timor's army commander, Taur Matan Ruak, said he wanted to know how foreign forces stationed in the country since the 2006 unrest had failed in their primary task of providing security.

But Finn Reske-Nielsen, the U.N. deputy head for East Timor, said Ramos-Horta wanted his own security "to be provided by national authorities, and therefore there was no U.N. police protection" during Monday's attack.

Australia has boosted its security presence in the country since the attack. It now has more than 1,000 troops with the arrival of a warship and more than 300 police and soldiers.

Ramos-Horta, 58, was shot at least two times in his chest and stomach. Doctors in the northern Australian city of Darwin, where he was being treated, have said he will need several operations but are hopeful he will make a full recovery.

"His progress is excellent," said surgeon Phil Carson. "Everything is going as well as it could be."

He said the president remained heavily sedated, and if progress continues he could be discharged within two weeks.