East Timor's prime minister, Xanana Gusmao, has welcomed the surrender in Dili of the rebel leader who led an attack against him in February.

Our Jakarta correspondent, Geoff Thompson, says Prime Minister Gusmao, has praised the military and police for securing Gastao Salsinha's surrender.

Mr Gusmao - speaking in Jakarta after meeting with Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono - says the matter is now in the hands of East Timor's judiciary.

"Of course we'll go to the courts to prove if they are guilty or not. But it is not the business of the government," he said.

Local and United Nations police are now escorting Gastao Salsinha to Dili, along with 12 members of his rebel group.

Salsinha had been in talks with authorities in a house near Gleno, in the country's west.

He had indicated he would formally surrender if and when the other remaining rebels joined him.

It is understood the men have all handed over their weapons, and have permission to stage a ceremonial surrender in front of the government palace in Dili.

The UN says it expects all men will be charged over their roles in the assassination attempts on the president, Jose Ramos Horta, and the prime minister, Xanana Gusmao.

Another four suspects were arrested in Indonesia and are now in custody in Dili.

President Ramos Horta suffered gunshot wounds in the assassination attempt and spent two months in Australia recovering.

Prime Minister Gusmao escaped injury.

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