Ramos-Horta speaks to public

(CNN) -- In his first public comments, East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta thanked his medical staff and supporters but refrained from talking about the assassination attempt against him.

Horta recorded a video message at the Australian hospital where he continues to recover from gunshot wounds. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation posted the message on its Web site Wednesday.

"Today is the first time I am able to speak publicly," Ramos-Horta said, propped on an armchair with the East Timorese flag behind him.

"Although I am refraining from making a political speech ... I wish to use this opportunity to thank all who prayed for me, who looked after me, who cared for me following the assassination attempt on me."

The president spent the rest of the message thanking those who played a part in his recovery.

"World leaders, common people who all this time have shown their sympathy, their support and their prayers, I thank you all and God bless you," he said.

Rebels shot the president in the back twice during a coordinated attack in East Timor's capital, Dili, on February 11. One of the bullets tore through Ramos-Horta's abdomen. The attackers ambushed Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao the same day, but he escaped unhurt.

Ramos-Horta, 58, was flown to Australia, where doctors performed reconstructive surgery in February to repair the bullet wounds. He may undergo further surgeries.

He awoke from an induced coma on February 20. East Timor's deputy prime minister said at the time that it may be another month before doctors discharged Ramos-Horta and several more months before he fully recovers.

Australia has sent more than 200 troops and police to help stabilize East Timor since the attacks. The security forces are in addition to an international stabilization force of about 1,000 soldiers from Australia, Malaysia, Portugal and New Zealand that have been in East Timor since it gained independence from Indonesia in 2002.

The attack on Ramos-Horta is blamed on rebel soldiers led by leader Major Alfredo Reinado. He was killed in the assault, along with another attacker and a presidential bodyguard.

About 600 East Timorese soldiers were dismissed in March 2006 after they went on strike against alleged discrimination in the military.

Reinado, the Australian-trained former head of East Timor's military police, joined the revolt and became its leader. He was later captured but broke out of prison and returned to lead disaffected troops.

Ramos-Horta shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 for his work on behalf of the East Timorese people during the country's quarter-century occupation by Indonesia. E-mail to a friend