East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta has forgiven the leader of a botched coup that last month nearly cost him his life, a hospital visitor said Monday. ( dpa )
Ramos Horta was medically evacuated to the Australian city of Darwin on February 11 after being shot twice by soldiers loyal to Major Alfredo Reinado, who died in the exchange of gunfire in Dili, the East Timor capital.
In a statement issued in Darwin, interim president Fernando de Araujo said Ramos Horta's recovery was going very well and that he had asked the East Timorese government led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao to support Reinado's family.
Gusmao, who was also targeted by the rebels, on Sunday received the surrender of Amaro da Costa, one of Reinado's rebels.
Ramos-Horta shared the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize with compatriot Bishop Carlos Belo for leading the diplomatic campaign for East Timor's freedom.
Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975 and its occupation continued until 1999, the year Australia led an international force that helped guide East Timor to full independence in 2002.
The Nobel laureate and former prime minister is expected to make a full recovery.