Mega to meet Australia's Crean

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri will reportedly meet with Australian opposition leader Simon Crean Monday to discuss counterterrorism and economic issues.

"I think it's terribly important that we build personal contacts, (and discuss) issues associated with terrorism, regional security, and the economic agenda," the Australian Labor Party leader told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Television on Sunday, Associated Press reported.

There was no official confirmation from Megawati's office.

The world's most populous Muslim country has had a rocky relationship with Australian Prime Minister John Howard's government in recent years.

Megawati has said she will not meet with Howard next month at a ceremony to commemorate last year's deadly nightclub bombings on Indonesia's Bali island, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

Howard had asked to meet the Indonesian leader on Oct. 12 -- the anniversary of the attacks -- to discuss anti-terrorism cooperation, but Megawati said she had a prior commitment to host a visit by the Algerian president.

Crean is also scheduled to meet Indonesia's police chief, the head of state intelligence, academics and religious leaders in Jakarta.

On Tuesday, Crean will fly to Singapore to meet with the acting prime minister and senior government ministers. He will return to Australia on Thursday. --AP