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East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta is in a critical condition and has been put into an induced coma, after being shot by rebel soldiers.

Mr Ramos-Horta was shot in a pre-dawn attack on his Dili home, and later airlifted to Australia for treatment.

Later Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao declared a 48-hour state of emergency, including a night-time curfew.

Gusmao, who was targeted in a separate incident but was unharmed, described the events as a coup attempt.

Rebel leader Alfredo Reinado and another rebel died in the attack on Ramos-Horta.

Australian PM Kevin Rudd pledged to send more peacekeepers to East Timor.

He said the "attempt to assassinate the democratically elected leadership of a close friend and neighbour of Australia's is a deeply disturbing development".

'Under control'

The attack on Ramos-Horta happened at about 0700 on Monday (2200 GMT Sunday).

Two cars drove past the president's house on the outskirts of the capital, Dili.

He was outside the compound at the time. He apparently tried to return home after hearing gunshots but was shot on the way in, according to UN officials.

One soldier was also reported to be seriously wounded.

Ramos-Horta was taken to a hospital run by the Australian military in Dili, where he was stabilised.

He was later evacuated to Darwin for further treatment, and put in intensive care on a ventilator.

He received three gunshot wounds - one in the stomach and two in the chest - and his condition is described as "serious but stable".

But the Darwin hospital's general manager told AFP news agency he was hopeful for a full recovery.

"The fact that he is in a stable condition is a good sign that we should see some reasonable outcomes for him," Dr Len Notaras said.

"He's not fighting for his life but his injuries are extremely serious."

'Failed coup'

Shots were also fired at Gusmao's convoy, shortly after the attack on Mr Ramos-Horta, but no-one was hurt.

The attack happened after the prime minister had left his house. The vehicles came under heavy fire, and one reportedly left the road and rolled over.

Mr Gusmao told a press briefing that the situation was under control.

"I consider this incident a coup attempt against the state by Reinado and it failed," he said.