On 25 February 2008,the Security Council, by its resolution 1802 (2008) extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) for one year, until 26 February 2009, at the current authorized levels.

This resolution was adopted in the wake of the 11 February attacks onTimor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta (who was seriously injured) and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão (who escaped uninjured).The violent events shook the country and shocked the international community. At the consultations of the Security Council on 11 February, the Council, in its Presidential statement (S/PRST/2008/5), condemned “in the strongest possible terms” those acts as an attack “on the legitimate institutions of Timor-Leste.”The Council called on the Government to bring to justice those responsible for the attacks and appealed to the people of Timor-Leste to remain calm, exercise restraint and maintain stability in the country.The Council reaffirmed its full support to the Government and people of Timor-Leste in their continued efforts to strengthen democracy and ensure public security and maintain stability in the country, as well as for the work of UNMIT and for the continued deployment of the international security force in response to the requests of the Government of Timor-Leste.