Australian prime minister in East Timor for crisis talks

Dili: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visited East Timor's capital Dili on Friday after assassination attempts on the nation's leadership.

Rudd arrived in Dili while President Hose Ramos-Horta was recovering from gunshot wounds in an Australian hospital. He is expected to visit Ramos-Horta later on Friday.

Security was tight in Dili for Rudd's expected three-hour visit, with Canberra having sent more than 200 reinforcement troops and police.

"Australia will stand shoulder to shoulder into the future in the defence of East Timor's democratic system of government," Rudd said at a press conference.

"I am ... deeply concerned about the future security and stability of East Timor," Rudd said. "It's pretty murky to be honest."