The police have cordoned off the scene of the shooting

The off-duty officer, who had just left work, was shot a number of times as he sat in his car at traffic lights on Circular Road at about 1730 GMT.

He managed to drive back to Dungannon Police Station and was then taken to Craigavon Area Hospital by ambulance. He is in a stable condition.

Earlier on Monday, the Real IRA admitted it shot an off-duty police officer in Londonderry last week.

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has described the latest attack as "despicable and cowardly".

"I totally condemn it and my thoughts are with the officer and his family," he said.

Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness said anybody with information should bring it to the police.

Real IRA

"These people are attempting to plunge our society back into conflict," the Sinn Fein MP said.

"I am confident that the vast majority of people here will ensure that this does not happen."

The DUP's Lord Maurice Morrow said the attack was timed to coincide with Sinn Fein nominating District Policing Partnership members at Dungannon Council on Monday evening.

The meeting has since been cancelled.

"I am absolutely horrified and I am absolutely sickened," he said.

"It is time the government got the gloves off and allowed the PSNI to crush this dissident faction of republicans that are intent on causing maximum damage."

Last Thursday, a 43-year-old policeman was shot as he dropped his child off at school in Londonderry.

He suffered injuries to his face and arm, and is still being treated in hospital.

In a statement, the Real IRA said two of its members attacked the Catholic officer's car as it travelled along Bishop Street.

The Real IRA was behind the 1998 Omagh bombing which killed 29 people.