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Indonesian President Postpones Political Parties Meeting
Indonesia's major political parties meeting which was expected to take place on Saturday was postponed here Friday as some parties' leaders said they have yet to received official invitations from President Abdurrahman Wahid to attend the meeting which was described by Wahid as "an effort to reach reconciliation."
Chief of protocol bureau at the presidential secretariat Wahyu Muryadi confirmed the cancellation, saying that the meeting probably would be conducted next week, instead of Saturday (July 7) , as expected before.
"The meeting (between the president and major political parties) may be conducted next week," Muryadi was quoted by the Antara News Agency as saying.
Earlier, in what observers considered as a move to duck from a possible impeachment hearing, Wahid invited again major political parties in the country for a dialogue, which he said to be aimed at seeking a breakthrough for resolving ongoing political crisis.
He expected dialogue would be able to bridge differences between him and his foes, "to reach deal for reconciliation."
Chairman of Golkar Party, who is also Speaker of parliament, Akbar Tandjung said Friday that his side has yet to received any official invitation from Wahid's camp for the meeting.
"We have been contacted by Wahid's aides informally, to ask our willingness (for the meeting), but so far we have yet to receive official invitation," Tandjung told reporters.
He said that his party is ready to join the meeting, "but I suggest the president to approach the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to participate in the meeting, as the PDI-P is the biggest party which has majority seats in parliament," Tandjung added.
Meanwhile, Megawati has reportedly been visiting eastern part of the country's region and is about to leave for Singapore for medical checkup.
"She would be back to Jakarta on Saturday evening at the soonest," her close aid said, citing her boss has also yet to received any invitations from Wahid.
Separately, Wahid on Friday met with Megawati's younger sister Rachmawati Soekarnoputri at the latter residence. But no comments were available from the Muslim cleric on the meeting discussion.
Yet, Rachmawati said that in the course of the meeting she and the Wahid have discussed the upcoming meeting among political parties.
"The meeting would be rescheduled and it was expected to take place next week as there is a little troubles," Rachmawati was quoted as saying by the detikcom online news service Friday.
Wahid political career is at stake as the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is due to hold a special meeting to ask him to account for his erratic 19 months in rule.
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