East Timor has declared a state of emergency following an assassination attempt on its two top leaders. President Jose Ramos-Horta is said to be in serious but stable condition after rebel soldiers shot him Monday in a pre-dawn attack. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao was also targeted, but he was not injured. Ramos-Horta is being treated in an Australian hospital. Doctor Len Notaras said the East Timorese leader is lucky to be alive.

Len Notaras: “Look, we would be very hopeful of a good recovery. This is a very traumatic and nasty event. High-velocity and high-powered weapons shooting somebody in the chest and in the abdomen are nasty injuries, but we would be very hopeful and cognizant of a good recovery.”

Ramos-Horta won the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to lead East Timor’s bid against Indonesian occupation. He has served as prime minister and president since East Timor’s independence.