New York - East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta called on the UN Security Council on Thursday to continue its assistance to the tiny island nation in the Pacific, a call supported by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

A UN mission comprised of nearly 3,000 police and civilian personnel has been providing security to the country and training to local forces. The UN was first involved 10 years ago in helping East Timor to gain independence from Indonesia and in organizing elections to establish the current government.

Sydney  - East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta has decided against trying to become the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, fearing it would disrupt his newly independent country, n

Sydney, Feb. 12 : East Timor President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta will remain in an induced coma until at least Thursday, doctors at a Darwin hospital said on Tuesday evening.

They said that Ramos-Horta is in a serious but stable condition following Monday's assassination attempt in Dili, during which he was shot two or three times by rebel troops at his residence.

Surgeons operated on Dr. Ramos-Horta for up to three hours overnight to remove bullet fragments and repair his wounds.