José Ramos-Horta, East Timor’s president, and Xanana Gusmão, its prime minister, survived assassination attempts by fugitive members of the country’s armed forces in Dili on Monday.

Mr Gusmão described the double strike as a “coup attempt” by Alfredo Reinado, a military police major who deserted in May 2006 and launched a rebellion after half the armed forces were dismissed. The prime minister declared a 48-hour state of emergency last night together with a curfew.