Gastao Salsinha told the BBC that security personnel for President Jose Ramos-Horta started the fire fight that killed rebel chief Alfredo Reinado.
Speaking from hiding, Mr Salsinha said he had now taken over as rebel leader.
The president was seriously hurt in Monday's attack, but PM Xanana Gusmao escaped practically unscathed.
Mr Salsinha, who is believed to have played a central role in the attack on Mr Gusmao's convoy, told the BBC: "If our intention was to ambush the PM, he wouldn't have escaped."
In regard to the shooting of Mr Ramos-Horta, he said: "It wasn't Major Alfredo who started the attack, it was the presidential security."
This information views from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
