Susilo's exit made official

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed on Friday the decree making official the departure of Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from the Cabinet, ending their weeks-long rift.

State Secretary Bambang Kesowo, upon announcing the issuance of Decree No. 36/M/2004, said the President had appointed Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno as the interim senior security minister.

Bambang said the President "understands and appreciates" Susilo's resignation and thanked him for his contributions to her government.

"Along with the decree on his dismissal, the President wrote a personal letter thanking Pak Yudhoyono for his hard work during his term," Bambang said.

Another part of Megawati's letter that Bambang failed to mention hints at her former minister's political ambitions.

"I understand that Bapak Susilo's political career still has a long way to go," the letter reads.

Susilo, who was also dismissed from the Cabinet in 2001 by his previous boss, former president Abdurrahman Wahid, is begin tipped as the main opposition to Megawati in the country's first ever direct presidential election on July 5.

Bambang said the President had appointed Hari interim security minister because of his competence and knowledge of political and security affairs.

"He is the most serious official among the ministers dealing with political and security affairs. Based on this assessment, the President believes he is capable of taking up the post," Bambang said.

Deputy State Secretary Erman Radjagukguk said Susilo was pleased to hear Megawati's response to his resignation.

"That is great," Susilo was quoted by Erman as saying.