Mega condemns attacks on U.S.

JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri condemned on Wednesday the "barbaric and indiscriminate" terrorist attacks on the United States, underlining the need for international cooperation to fight terrorism.

In a message to President George W. Bush, Megawati expressed her deepest condolences and sympathy to the government and the people of the United States.

She also expressed "great shock" over the tragic attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon just outside Washington.

"The Indonesian government condemns this brutal and indiscriminate attack that has resulted in a great number of victims among innocent people ... we express our deepest condolences and sympathy to the U.S. government and its people, especially to the bereaved," she said.

She said the attacks "underlined the need for international cooperation to fight terrorism, in which Indonesia was prepared to cooperate to face any acts of terrorism."

The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta thanked the government for the protection of its mission, saying that the U.S. "strongly hopes to intensify cooperation with Indonesia in the fight against international terrorism."

Megawati's planned trip to the U.S. now hangs in the balance, as the government is still waiting for information from the host country on security conditions there.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said Jakarta would consult Washington in the next two days on whether or not Megawati could push through with her visit scheduled for Sept. 19 to Sept. 25.

Correcting a report by The Jakarta Post, Hassan said on Wednesday there had not yet been any discussion as to whether the trip would be canceled.

"We were invited by the U.S. government so we have to wait for information from them on the planned trip," he remarked.

Presidential Secretary Kemal Munawar said there had been no news from the U.S. government on the planned visit and the Indonesian government would wait for their confirmation.

"We understand that the U.S. government must be very busy now, so we will wait. However, the planned visit to Japan remains as scheduled," Kemal told journalists.

Megawati was initially scheduled to leave for Washington on Sept. 17 to hold a meeting with President George W. Bush and to address the United Nations General Assembly Session in New York. On the return journey, she planned to stop off in Japan on Sept. 26 to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. (dja)