Conscious Ramos-Horta 'asked about East Timorese'
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The Deputy Prime Minister of East Timor says as President Jose Ramos-Horta regained consciousness after an induced coma, one of his first questions to his family was to ask about the people of East Timor.
Mr Ramos-Horta has undergone five operations since being shot twice in a failed assassination attempt 10 days ago.
The President is aware the rebel leader Alfredo Reinado died in the assassination attempt.
East Timor's deputy Prime Minister, Jose Luis Guterres, has flown to Darwin to see the President's condition first hand.
"In that condition he still remembers the main task and the main purpose for all his entire life - that was fight for the freedom, the democracy and the independence of East Timor," he said.
Mr Ramos-Horta's niece, Melissa Ramos-Horta, spoke to the President this morning.
"I think today he is doing much better - everything is sinking in today," she said.
"But he is happy and just asking for his family and the people of Timor and for us - he just wants the reassurance that everyone is well.
"He is the one lying in bed and he's asking to make sure everyone is well."
Mr Guterres says his country is thankful for the help given by the Australian Government and says he is pleased with the protection offered to Mr Ramos-Horta.
"We are happy that all the measures have been taken by the authorities in Australia - the federal authorities as well as the Northern Territory, so we are very, very happy," he said.
Recovery
Doctors at the Royal Darwin Hospital say Mr Ramos-Horta is recovering well.
Dr Paul Goldrick says the President is in pain but making progress.
"Doctors - myself and surgeons here at the hospital - are very pleased with his steady progress," Dr Goldrick said.
"We expect him to make a full recovery but we think this may take up to several months.
"He is going to remain in an intensive care unit for a period longer - we don't know how long; this may be several weeks."
Meanwhile, the President's guard who was also shot, Lieutenant Sellistino Gomez, has been taken out of intensive care and is now in a general ward.
José Ramos-Horta in 2006.
The President of East Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta, has woken from the induced coma he was put in following an assassination attempt. The President, who was shot by rebels on February 11, is still in a serious condition requiring more surgery, but is recovering, according to the doctors treating him at the Royal Darwin Hospital in Darwin, Australia.

Jose Luis Guterres, the East Timorese Deputy Prime Minister, has flown to Darwin, and says that one of the President's first concerns upon regaining consciousness was for his country. "One of his first words was to mention to his close relatives to look after the people of East Timor," he said.