China is startled by and condemns the attack on Jose Ramos-Horta, president of East Timor, and expects him to recover as early as possible, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Monday night.

Being a friendly neighbor of East Timor, China hopes to see that East Timor maintains social stability and its people live and work in peace and contentment, Liu said.

It was reported that rebel soldiers attacked Ramos-Horta's home on the outskirts of the capital, Dili, early Monday morning (local time). Ramos-Horta was seriously wounded.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2008)