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East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao does not want New Zealand to boost its security presence in the troubled fledgling nation, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
There has been calm in Dili following the twin assassination attempts on East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta and Mr Gusmao on Monday.
Mr Ramos-Horta remains in a serious but stable condition after being shot in the stomach and back.
A platoon of 20 to 35 New Zealand soldiers is on standby to join the troops already stationed in the capital, Dili, but Miss Clark today said she had spoken to Mr Gusmao and he had not requested additional security assistance.
Mr Gusmao was "calm and very reasoned" about the situation, she said.
"He feels they can manage their way through. He is not looking for a major extra security presence," she said on Radio New Zealand.
"He wants the focus in Timor to shift on from the international community needing to provide security on to building their institutions so they have well functioning police and military and other institutions."
Australia has around 1000 troops in East Timor and has lifted that presence by about 150 due to the attacks.
Defence Minister Phil Goff yesterday said the boost in the Australian presence was more to reassure the public than due to a worsening of security.
Mr Goff said he had been informed that the president had been returning to his home when the assassins attacked.
There had been firing when Mr Ramos-Horta entered the house and also after he tried to leave it.
Fugitive rebel leader Alfredo Reinado was "definitely confirmed dead" at the scene.
Most people have blamed Major Reinado for the two attacks, but his supporters say he was an innocent victim caught up in the ambush.
Mr Goff said he would await the United Nations police investigation.
"Given the fact that Prime Minister Gusmao was attacked, we now understand about 40 minute later and again by people associated with Major Reinado, on the surface it appears Major Reinado was responsible for these events."
Mr Ramos-Horta is now in an induced coma in a Darwin hospital.
No vital organs had been seriously damaged by the gunshots.
- NZPA
