President inaugurates libraries

SURABAYA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated 50 libraries across the archipelago via video linkup from Cirebon regency on Friday.

Two of the libraries were in Sumenep, Guluk-guluk subdistrict, and Blitar, Sumberejo district, both in East Java. The libraries were built by the Blitar and Sumenep regental governments in cooperation with telecommunications company PT Telkom.

The regental governments provided the land, while Telkom built the two buildings at a total cost of Rp 300 million.

Besides building the libraries, the company also donated 2,400 books.

Megawati will also inaugurate a number of projects worth a total of Rp 124.2 billion in the restive province of Aceh on Sunday.

The President is also scheduled to hold talks with local Muslim scholars, said Thantawi Ishak, a local government official in Aceh. -- Antara