The president of East Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta, has been shot and wounded in a pre-dawn attack on his home in the capital, Dili, military officials say.

Alfredo Reinado, a rebel soldier who apparently led the raid on Monday, was killed in the attack.

Ramos-Horta's condition is unclear, although reports said he had been shot in the stomach and was undergoing surgery at an Australian military hospital in Dili.

One of the president's guards was killed in the exchange of fire which took place at around 4am local time.

Reinado was wanted on murder charges over a flare up of violence in April and May 2006 that left 37 people dead.

The violence was caused by a split in the military that led to some 600 soldiers - about one-third of the defence force - being sacked.

Reinado was later jailed for leading a mutiny, but escaped from prison in September 2006 along with 50 others and has been on the run ever since.

Reinado was jailed for leading a mutiny  in the army in 2006 [EPA]

In November last year Reinado had threatened to use force against the government if it failed to concede to his demands.

 

Earlier this month Australian troops patrolling near Dili were fired on by rebel soldiers loyal to Reinado.

 

East Timor was a Portuguese colony until 1975 and was then invaded by Indonesia, whose brutal rule over the territory led to the deaths of an estimated 200,000 people.

 

During that time Ramos-Horta became a prominent figure in the resistance to Indonesian rule, and was jointly awarded the 1996 Nobel peace prize with the bishop of East Timor, Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.

 

In 1999 a referendum was held on independence, triggering a wave of violence by pro-Indonesian militia.

 

An Australian-led peacekeeping force restored order and the country declared independence in 2002, but it has continued to be plagued by violence and gang fighting.