US President George W. Bush said today the US government looked forward to working with Indonesia's new President Megawati Sukarnoputri and urged all parties to work together to maintain peace.
"The people of Indonesia, by addressing their leadership crisis, and with their constitution and law have shown commitment to the rule of law and democracy," President Bush said."We hope all parties will work together to maintain peace, support the constitution and promote national reconciliation."
President Bush made the comments in Rome during a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi, a few hours after Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly appointed Ms Megawati to the presidency after sacking President Abdurraham Wahid for misrule.
"We appreciate President Wahid's work in the last two years leading Indonesia through its democratic transition," he said. "We look forward to working with President Megawati and her team to address Indonesia's challenges of economic reform, peaceful resolution of separatist challenges and maintaining territorial integrity."
A majority of legislators in Indonesia's top assembly voted to sack President Mr Abdurrahman Wahid for misrule and replace him with Vice President Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri earlier today.
|
|
Mr Abdurrahman Wahid
|
The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) were spurred on by Mr Wahid's predawn move to declare a state of emergency and order the top assembly to disband - a demand ignored by the MPR and the police.
But uncertainty remains over whether Mr Wahid can be forced to leave the presidential palace. The embattled leader has said he will refuse to step aside.
Only the MPR, a 700-member body largely made up of parliamentarians, has the power to appoint and fire presidents.