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.