'I didn't quit,' says Hendropriyono

SEMINYAK, Bali: Former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Hendropriyono said he had not resigned, but that his term had ended automatically when the Cabinet of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri completed its tenure on Oct. 20.

"I was a Cabinet member, therefore my term ended when the Cabinet's tenure ended," Hendropriyono said after a meeting with East Timor President Xanana Gusmao.

He said his deputy As'ad Said had taken over his post to prevent a vacuum of power in the country's main intelligence body.

Hendropriyono was responding to State Secretary Sudi Silalahi who said on Friday that the BIN chief had resigned.

Hendropriyono said he met Gusmao in his capacity as chairman of the Indonesian Boxing Commission to donate boxing gloves. --Antara