Religious minister to visit Middle East

JAKARTA: Minister of Religious Affairs M. Maftuh Basyuni will visit three countries in North Africa and the Middle East, including a trip to Yemen to meet with Indonesian students there.

Maftuh said on Thursday he would begin his trip in Yemen from August 2 to August 5, before attending a three-day international conference in Saudi Arabia until August 8.

On August 9, the minister will begin a three-day visit to Algeria, where he will attend official meetings.

"I want to meet with Indonesian students in Yemen. We have very close relations with Yemen and a lot of Indonesian students are studying in Yemen's Islamic boarding schools," Maftuh said after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss the overseas trip. --JP