East Timor issues arrest warrants for suspects in shooting

Dili: Arrest warrants have been issued for 12 suspects in last week's assassination attempts on East Timor's top leaders, prosecutors said on Friday.

Attorney General Longuinhos Monteiro said that 12 warrants were handed over to police and that five more would likely follow soon. The suspects' names were not released.

Suspected rebels on Monday shot President Jose Ramos-Horta outside his home, while another gunman fired at Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao an hour later.

Ramos-Horta has been flown to an Australian hospital where he is recovering from gunshot wounds.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the attacks were a "deep assault" on East Timor's democracy. He visited East Timor on Friday in a show of support.