Mr Ramos-Horta was shot in the stomach in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home.

Alfredo Reinado, a renegade soldier who had threatened the government, was killed by guards during the attack.

Gunmen also attacked Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao but he was not hurt. He called the incidents an attempted coup by Reinado and appealed for calm.

Mr Ramos-Horta is to be flown to the Australian city of Darwin for further treatment.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the "attempt to assassinate the democratically elected leadership of a close friend and neighbour of Australia's is a deeply disturbing development".