E. Timor rebel leader surrenders to police

DILI, March 2 Kyodo

A man who was among those who tried to assassinate East Timor's president last month has surrendered to police, an official said Sunday.

''Amaro da Costa surrendered to police late Saturday in Turiscai, 120 kilometers south of the capital Dili, handing over two automatic weapons and some ammunition,'' joint command spokesman Tomas Elijio told Kyodo News.

Ex-policeman Da Costa, popularly called Susar, was allegedly involved in the Feb. 11 attack on the home of President Jose Ramos-Horta, who was seriously wounded in the assassination attempt.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who escaped unhurt after a separate attack at the same day, established a joint command, consisting of military and police to hunt for followers of rebel leader Alfredo Reinado, who was killed in the attack on Ramos-Horta.

Arrest warrants had been issued against 17 people suspected of involvement in the attacks, including deputy rebel leader Da Costa and Gastao Salsinha, who took command of the rebels after Reinado was killed.

East Timor separated from Indonesia following 24 years of occupation in 1999 and became independent in 2002 after being under a U.N. transitional administration.

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