East Timor’s president, Jose Ramos-Horta, is in a critical condition and has been put into an induced coma after being shot by rebel soldiers.

Ramos-Horta was shot in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home, and later airlifted to Australia for treatment. Two cars drove past the president’s house shooting him on the road outside.

Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado was also killed in the attack and a soldier was seriously wounded.

Meanwhile Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has pledged to send more peacekeepers to East Timor.