Battling graft key to RI progress: U.S.

Battling graft key to RI progress: U.S.

WASHINGTON (AFP): The United States has reaffirmed its position that rooting out graft is key to economic growth following Jakarta's move charging former Indonesian president Soeharto with corruption.

"Combating corruption through legal action and by improving the way business and government operate is essential to economic progress and good governance, not only in Indonesia but in all nations," the State Department said in a statement.

The statement did not directly refer to the longtime leader and former Washington ally and said decisions on how to prosecute graft had to be made by Indonesians themselves.

"It's up to the Indonesian people and their government to decide how to pursue specific corruption investigation and prosecution," said the statement, released on Thursday.

"Given popular calls for firm and resolute investigation and follow up of this matter in Indonesia, we expect that the issue of corruption will continue to be the focus of debate and legal action there," it added.

State prosecutors charged Soeharto with corruption on Thursday, bringing him a step closer to a criminal trial.

He is charged with embezzling US$550 million during his iron- fisted 32-year rule, which started when he catapulted to power as a young army general on the heels of a failed coup in 1965 blamed on communists.

"The U.S. government has long held that corruption is the most serious impediment to economic growth and respect for law in developing countries" the State Department said.