UNITED NATIONS—U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned what he called the "brutal and unspeakable" shooting attack that critically wounded East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta Monday.
He called on the Timorese people to stay calm and refrain from violence, a U.N. statement said.
The United Nations announced that the Security Council would hold closed consultations on the Timor situation later in the day, which could be followed by a formal meeting—likely to lead to a statement.
Opening a climate change debate at the U.N. General Assembly, Ban said: "Allow me to begin by adding my voice to all who pray for the full and speedy recovery of (Ramos-Horta) after the brutal and unspeakable attack he suffered."
"We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Timor Leste (East Timor), in the hope that peace and stability will prevail," Ban added.
He also thanked Australia, which has pledged to send more troops to help maintain security in Asia's youngest nation.
Ramos-Horta was shot and critically wounded at his home in the capital Dili in an assassination attempt by rebel soldiers. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao escaped injury in another shooting also Monday morning, officials said.
A separate statement by Ban's spokesperson said the secretary-general was "shocked and dismayed" by the attacks.
"The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms these unacceptable attacks on the legitimate institutions of the state and calls on the Timorese people to remain calm and refrain from all violent acts."
The statement said U.N. police in East Timor were on a high state of alert and coordinating with international security forces there and the Timorese authorities. The world body has around 1,500 police and 30 military observers in East Timor.
U.N. special representative Atul Khare had left the United States and was on his way back to Dili, it said.
The former Portuguese colony of almost 1 million people gained full independence in 2002 after a U.N. sponsored vote in 1999, which was marred by violence, ended more than two decades of brutal Indonesian occupation.
East Timor has been struggling to get back on its feet after the army tore apart along regional lines in 2006.
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