E Timor rebel 'ready to give up'

The president has reportedly forgiven Mr Salsinha for his role in the attack

A rebel former army officer allegedly involved in an assassination attempt on East Timor's president is negotiating his surrender, local media says.

Police had been surrounding the hideout of Gastao Salsinha for several weeks.

Although Mr Salsinha remains armed and no formal surrender has been agreed, he is now in discussions with army representatives, reports say.

President Jose Ramos-Horta, who was seriously wounded in February's attack, flew home from Australia last week.

'One place to talk'

The negotiations for Mr Salsinha's surrender are reportedly taking place in a house outside the capital Dili.

Many are wondering what sort of judicial process Mr Salsinha will receive, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Indonesia.

There is only one place for (Gastao Salsinha) to talk, that is in court Jose Ramos Horta

Mr Ramos-Horta had urged Mr Salsinha and his allies to give themselves up, and he is reported to have forgiven Mr Salsinha for his role in the attack that nearly claimed his life, our correspondent says.

"I ask Salsinha to surrender, to come to Dili, surrender his weapon and surrender himself to the prosecutor's office," he said last week.

"There is only one place for him to talk, that is in court... only a court can decide whether he is guilty or not."

Mr Salsinha is thought to have replaced Alfredo Reinado, who was killed in the attack, as the leader of the fugitive soldiers.

The rebels have been on the run since 2006 - when the sacking of 600 soldiers sparked huge unrest.

Rebels killed

Dozens of people were killed and some 150,000 displaced as factional violence and looting engulfed the country. Some 2,500 foreign troops were called in to restore order.

East Timorese and international troops have been hunting for them since the February shooting.

Mr Ramos-Horta suffered bullet wounds to the chest and spent two weeks in a medically-induced coma.

Two rebels, including the plot's alleged leader, Alfredo da Costa, were killed in the attempted assassination.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao escaped unhurt when rebels ambushed his motorcade on the same day as the attack on the president.