Key soldier wanted in East Timor attacks surrenders

Dili (ANTARA News) - A key renegade soldier sought in connection with last month's attacks on the leadership of East Timor has surrendered, the head of the country's joint military and police operation said here Sunday.

Amaro da Silva Susar, the second most wanted person in the February 11 attacks that left President Jose Ramos-Horta seriously wounded, turned himself in Saturday night, a spokesman for the joint effort, Filomeno Paixa de Jesus, was quoted by AFP as telling a press conference.

Susar, who surrendered in the Aileu district, just southeast of the capital Dili, said he participated in the assault on Ramos-Horta at the president's private residence.

"Yes I was involved. I stood at the gate," Susar told the press conference, adding however, that he was not the person who shot the president.

"I surrendered because I want my country to progress in the future, so its people can live in calm," he said.

Authorities have issued at least 17 arrest warrants for renegade soldiers accused of taking part in the attacks, which included an ambush on Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao who survived uninjured.

Topping their most wanted list is Gustao Salsinha, the right hand man of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who was shot dead during the attack on Ramos-Horta.

Australian-led international peacekeepers along with UN forces have been assisting the search.

Ramos-Horta, the Nobel peace laureate, is recovering in a hospital in northern Australia. Hospital officials say he has responded well to five operations to repair damage caused by bullet wounds to the back and chest.

International forces were originally dispatched to East Timor at the government's request after unrest in 2006 flared among military and police factions, causing bloody street violence that left 37 people dead. (*) END

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