World Scene

EAST TIMOR

President wounded in rebel attack

DILI — Rebel soldiers attacked the home of President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta early today, wounding him in the stomach. Gunmen also opened fire on a motorcade carrying the prime minister, but no one was injured.

Mr. Ramos-Horta was in “stable condition” after the shooting and would be flown to neighboring Australia for further treatment if necessary, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said.

Two cars carrying rebel soldiers passed Mr. Ramos-Horta’s house on the outskirts of Dili at about 7 a.m. local time and began shooting, said army spokesman Maj. Domingos da Camara. The guards returned fire, he said.

Notorious rebel leader Alfredo Reinado was killed in the attack, as was one of Mr. Ramos-Horta’s guards, he said.

IRAQ

U.S. sniper gets 10 years in murder

BAGHDAD — A military jury yesterday convicted an Army sniper of murder and sentenced him to 10 years in prison for killing an Iraqi civilian who wandered into the hiding place where six soldiers were sleeping.

Sgt. Evan Vela, 24, was found guilty of murder without premeditation, of aiding and abetting in planting an AK-47 on the dead man’s body, and of lying to military investigators about the shooting. He had faced a possible life sentence.

Vela showed no emotion when the verdict was read, but he asked the jury for mercy before it broke to decide his sentence. He apologized to the court, the Army and one of the sons of Genei Nasir al-Janabi, the man he shot with a pistol in May.

He also was sentenced to forfeit all pay and allowances and will receive a dishonorable discharge.

VENEZUELA

Exxon court action sparks oil threat

CARACAS — President Hugo Chavez threatened yesterday to cut off oil sales to the United States if Exxon Mobil Corp. wins court judgments to seize billions of dollars in Venezuelan assets.

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