Gus Dur leads party presidential race

Gus Dur leads party presidential race

JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid is still topping the list of presidential candidates from his National Awakening Party (PKB), a party leader says.

PKB deputy chairman Mahfud M. D. said here on Thursday that the party had identified three potential presidential candidates for the general elections in 2004, namely Gus Dur, PKB chairman Alwi Shihab and Nadhlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi.

"The majority want Gus Dur as their presidential candidate," Mahfud was quoted by Antara as saying.

Gus Dur, who was fired by members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in July 2001 for incompetence, has vowed to win the country's first ever direct presidential election.

Mahfud said its candidate would be chosen in June 2003. --Antara