Noted cleric to enliven VP race

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Noted Muslim cleric Abdullah Gymnastiar, better known as Aa' Gym, and Cabinet minister Kwik Kian Gie have been added to the list of possible running mates for National Mandate Party presidential hopeful Amien Rais.

Amien announced on Wednesday that Gymnastiar and Kwik would compete with eight other vice presidential candidates recommended by the party's provincial chapters during their national meeting here.

The party had previously selected nine candidates, but one of them, former minister Siswono Yudo Husodo, lacked the support and was scrapped from the roster. Senior ministers Jusuf Kalla and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar were touted as the favorite candidates, Amien said.

The party's deputy chairman, A.M. Fatwa, said on Wednesday the national meeting would let Amien choose his preference from among the 10 candidates.

Amien, who is also the People's Consultative Assembly speaker, said however that the party had not officially asked any of the candidates.

In Jakarta, Jusuf said he appreciated PAN's offer, but he would only respond depending on the results of the general election in 2004. -- JP