East Timor's prosecutor-general said on Wednesday he would issue arrest warrants for 18 people believed to be involved in assassination attempts on the Southeast Asian nation's president and prime minister.
President Jose Ramos-Horta was critically wounded by gunfire from rebel soldiers early on Monday, while Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao escaped unhurt in a separate attack on his motorcade.
"We're coming today to a conclusion to issue the warrants," Prosecutor-General Longinhos Monteiro told reporters in Dili.
Asked how strong the evidence was, he said: "99 percent," but added "I do not want to mention the names of those involved at this stage."
Australian troops continued to arrive in Dili on Wednesday to reinforce international peacekeepers and the 1,600-strong United Nations police detachment, who are enforcing a state of emergency declared in the wake of Monday's attacks.
Ramos-Horta was airlifted to Darwin in northern Australia on Monday for emergency medical treatment for gunshot wounds. Surgeons carried out a further operation on Wednesday.
His chief surgeon, Phil Carson, said the operation revealed the president was likely shot twice, not three times as thought earlier, and he would need several more operations.
He would have considerable scarring, but would make a full recovery, Carson said.
The president is expected to stay in a medically induced coma until next week after two rounds of surgery to rebuild his right lung and remove bullet fragments.
FEARS OF MORE VIOLENCE
