Gus Dur in Palembang

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: President Abdurrahman Wahid arrived here on Thursday afternoon and is scheduled to hold a dialog with residents after Friday prayers at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Grand Mosque on Friday.

Abdurrahman, who is on a two-day visit, is also due to meet with local civic and religious leaders on Friday morning, Antara reported.

The news agency said the President and First Lady Sinta Nuriyah Abdurrahman were in Palembang to attend the wedding of a daughter of a friend of the President, Kemas Madani Idroes, who heads the South Sumatra chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

At least 700 security personnel had been deployed in the city to secure the President's visit, the news agency said.

Abdurrahman is scheduled to return to Jakarta on Friday afternoon.(byg)