Bush calls Megawati, pledges U.S. support, aids

Bush calls Megawati, pledges U.S. support, aids

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has received a great show of
support from U.S. President George W. Bush for the country's
fight against terrorism, in the wake of the bomb attack on JW
Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.

In a telephone conversation between the two presidents on
Wednesday evening, Bush expressed his deepest sympathy and the
readiness of Washington to assist Indonesia in bringing the
perpetrators to court.

A source at the presidential office told The Jakarta Post on
Thursday that the conversation had lasted almost 30 minutes.

"The president emphasized that the United States stands with
the people of Indonesia in their fight against terrorism, and he
offered any and all assistance in bringing those responsible for
the terrorist attack to justice," said White House spokesman
Scott McClellan as quoted by Agence France-Presse.

"The president praised President Megawati for her leadership
in taking a tough stand against terrorism," he said in Crawford,
Texas, where Bush was on vacation at his ranch.

"The two leaders agreed that the recent bombing would only
strengthen their resolve to defeat the forces of terror. And they
agreed to stay in close touch," McClellan said.

Megawati had received support and sympathy from world leaders
following Tuesday's bombing, the fifth to rock the capital this
year. Police said that the latest bomb attack killed at least 10
people and injured 149 others.

Bush's phone call has sweetened the souring ties between the
two countries over the past months.

Washington's harsh stance against the imposition of martial
law in Aceh in May, and the alleged intrusion of U.S. warplanes
in Indonesian territory in July, had increased tension between
the two countries.

In an apparent show of commitment, the U.S. on Thursday
pledged US$500,000 in assistance for the victims of the Marriott
bombing.

"Our assistance will prioritize direct help to families and
victims impacted by the tragedy, emergency medical capacity, and
emergency preparedness training and supplies," U.S. Ambassador to
Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce said in a statement made available to
the Post.

He emphasized that the assistance showed that America shares
the grief of the bombing victims and their families and is
determined to fight terrorism with every possible means.