Amien apologizes over PKB row

SEMARANG: National Mandate Party (PAN) leader Amien Rais apologized on Saturday to executives and supporters of the National Awakening Party (PKB) for remarks he made about PKB cofounder Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

"I thank the PKB for its reprimand and I apologize to my brothers in the PKB if my statement was seen as offensive," Amien said during a post-Idul Fitri gathering on Saturday.

The PKB sent Amien an official complaint letter after he said he would refuse to be reelected as PAN leader because he did not want to emulate Gus Dur, whom he said dominated the PKB.

Amien went on to say that Gus Dur, as the PKB's chief patron, was a headache for party executives.

Amien asked the PKB to accept his apology and that he hoped to restore the friendly ties between the two parties. -- Antara