President Abdurrahman Wahid of Indonesia has said he would pardon Indonesia's former president Suharto after putting him on trial for corruption.
Mr Wahid has also ordered three ministers to be investigated for alleged corruption in an effort to demonstrate his commitment to clean government, Singapore's Sunday Times reported the country's attorney general as saying.
"I come from Indonesia just to make sure that we are still great friends of the United States," Mr Wahid, who was elected last month, told reporters before a meeting with President Clinton in Washington at the weekend.
Mr Clinton and Mr Wahid discussed Indonesia's economic recovery and its need for military reform, as well as East Timor. "President Clinton stressed the United States' interest in a stable, prosperous Indonesia," said Mr Mike Hammer, spokesman for the National Security Council. Two months ago, the US suspended military ties with Jakarta and halted arms sales over the Indonesian military's support for rampages by militias in East Timor.
Mr Clinton said the US was encouraged by recent events in Indonesia, including Mr Wahid's election.
Mr Hammer said President Clinton raised the problem of militia intimidation of refugees in West Timor during their talks. He said President Wahid promised to order the military to allow all refugees who wished to return to do so safely.
Mr Wahid, a former pro-democracy activist, confirmed he would pardon Mr Suharto after his trial on charges of corruption and amassing a fortune during 32 years in power.
"We would like to know whether he is guilty or not, according to the law. But after that we will pardon him because of two reasons," he said.
"First is that he was our president, so we have to be careful about this for the future generations. Second thing is that . . . it's not easy because Mr Suharto still has big followers. So we have to be careful not to, let's say, topple the cart."
Mr Wahid said the pardon would only apply to Mr Suharto, not his family. The Indonesian President, who postponed his trip to the US by a few days in the face of growing separatist pressure in the rebellious province of Aceh, backed the idea of a referendum on autonomy for the province.
He also said he was in the US to seek more assistance for Indonesia's struggling economy. Mr Clinton responded by authorising $30 million in US funds for Timor to address the humanitarian crisis, building on $21 million provided earlier.
A 22-year old man was killed by an unidentified assailant in the latest violence in the Indonesian province of Aceh, a report said yesterday.
In Jakarta, thousands of Muslim students marched yesterday to protest against a thawing of Indonesia's relations with Israel under President Wahid.