Sydney  - East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta is preparing to return to Dili after being cleared to travel Wednesday by doctors at the Darwin hospital where he was treated for gunshots sustained in a botched coup 11 February.

"He's fine, he has recovered very well, the doctors are allowing him to go home," a spokesman for the 58-year-old former prime minister said.

He told Australia's ABC Radio that Ramos-Horta would fly to Dili on Thursday morning and was expected to address its parliament later in the day.

Ramos-Horta named his would-be assassin as Marcelo Caetano, who is among more than a dozen rebel soldiers in hiding after the coup attempt led by Major Alfredo Reinado, who died in the exchange of gunfire outside the president's seaside home.

Ramos-Horta shared the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize with compatriot Bishop Carlos Belo for leading the diplomatic campaign for East Timor's freedom. Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975 and its occupation continued until 1999, the year Australia led an international force that helped guide the nation of 1 million to independence.

Ramos-Horta took over as interim prime minister a year ago after Mari Alkatiri resigned in the wake of violence that forced thousands to flee their homes for refugee camps. He was elected president last year, taking over from Xanana Gusmao, who was in turn elected prime minister. Independence hero Gusmao escaped uninjured in a simultaneous attack. (dpa)