Poso safe to welcome Megawati

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The Central Sulawesi administration assured on Monday that the situation in conflict-prone Poso would remain safe before and during the planned visit of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"We guarantee the situation in Poso before and during Ibu President Mega's visit will be conducive to her safety and well being," Central Sulawesi administration secretary Samijono was quoted by Antara as saying.

He was responding to several parties that had expressed their apprehensions on the situation in Poso, and that the security issue would be the main consideration as to whether or not Megawati would visit Poso.

Megawati is scheduled to visit Poso on Jan. 15 to commemorate Social Solidarity Day, when she is also to inaugurate 10,000 houses there. -- Antara.