4 Mar 2009

Woman charged in East Timor plot

11:58 am on 4 March 2009

A woman is to stand trial in connection in East Timor in connection with an assassination attempt on President Jose Ramos-Horta last year.

Attorney-General Longinhos Monteiro said on Tuesday that

Angelita Pires, the girlfriend of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado who was killed in the attack, was involved in the plot.

She is charged with conspiracy and faces a prison term of three years.

A total of 25 former military personnel and three civilians are to be tried in the Dili district court over the attempted assassination on 11 February, 2008.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was also attacked.

Mr Monteiro said 23 of the suspects were in prison in Dili awaiting trial and five were abroad receiving medical treatment.

Mr Ramos-Horta was shot and wounded in the attack. He spent weeks in hospital in Darwin before returning to East Timor.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.