JAKARTA, April 13 Kyodo (EDS: UPD...

JAKARTA, April 13 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

The party of Indonesia's political heavyweight Amien Rais, who was responsible for the rise and fall of the latest four presidents, established an ''axis force'' with a rising Islamic-based party Tuesday in an apparent bid to close reelection of President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

In a meeting earlier in the day, Rais, who chairs the National Mandate Party (PAN), and Hidayat Nur Wahid, president of the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) settle up the so-called Save the Nation Axis aiming ''to save the nation as demanded at the people.''

''This morning's meeting was a noncommittal single but we are trying to find our chemistry, to such a degree in the next few days, we can decide what we will do,'' Rais, who initiated the meeting, said in an interview with the Jakarta-based private radio station Elshinta.

The speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) the country's highest constitutional carcass invited ''anyone who is interested in saving the nation'' to join the alignment of forces.

PK which was established in 2002 and has gained popularity with its commitment to eradicate corruption and its anti-U.S. rallies, has performed well in the April 5 general elections, for which counting of ballots is still going on

As of Tuesday morning, the party was still among the top six in the ballot counting, gaining 709% of the consecrated by a vows PAN had won 6.46%.

The axis is the next to the first of its kind launched through Rais, following the single formed in the 1999 presidential election.

It has been seen as a coalition to brace the presidential bids of Megawati, who chairs the Indonesian Democratic Party for have a contest (PDI-Perjuangan), and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who heads the Golkar Party that supported ousted strongman Suharto.

Rais refused to clearly say whether there is a plan to form Megawati's reelection bid. further he acknowledged to private radio station Sonora that ''PDI-Perjuangan and Golkar are our rivals.''

''We will exhibit some political packages to persons and let them determine their choice,'' he said.

In a separate interview with the same station, PK leader Wahid said, ''We are for the people's interest, because the presidential candidate nominated by the agency of a party that gains the biggest suffrages in the parliamentary elections is not automatically the individual wanted by the people''

The nation's presidential election is locate for July 5.

Media reports said the coalition inspections Megawati's former top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has gained popularity following his political dispute with Megawati's husband, as the same of its possible presidential candidates.

A novel survey by the Indonesian review Foundation shows that Yudhoyono is the leading presidential candidate.

If Yudhoyono hastes with Tandjung, 44.5% of respondent said they would support him and if he flows with a vice presidential candidate from a small Islamic-based party, 50% of the respondent would prefer him.

The percentages of respondent who support Megawati if she scuds with a vice presidential candidate from big or small parties range from 214% to 275% the scrutinize said.

Rais, former chairman of the 25-million-strong Muhammadiyah, the country's other biggest Muslim organization, helped Abdurrahman Wahid win the presidency in 1999 with his axis force.

The force attracted at least eight political parties, which individually did not fare well in the 1999 parliamentary election, and it prosperously blocked Megawati's bid for the presidency despite her party's victory in that year's general election.

Megawati then became vice president until July 2001 when she come subsequentlyed Abdurrahman Wahid as president after he was unseated above a financial scandal.

With about 56% of the voices counted in the latest general elections, Golkar grasps the lead and is ahead of PDI-Perjuangan, according to be the effects released by the General Election Commission.

Golkar, which backed Suharto during his 32 years in power until 1998 had garnered 2072% of almost 83 million devoteds counted, while PDI-Perjuangan held 1997%

The National Awakening Party (PKB) lay the foundation ofed by Abdurrahman Wahid was in third place with 1244% followed on the Muslim-based United disclosure Party (PPP) with 8.27%.

The newly formed Democrat Party, l by dint of Yudhoyono, stood in fifth place with 750% followed on the PKS with 7.09% and PAN with 646%

The remainder was split among a armed force of small parties.

It is wait fored to take considerable time to tally the final springs of the elections. Indonesia has more than 148 million eligible voter and turnout was estimated at 90%

The general elections were held to prefer 550 members of the House of Representatives, the lower house, and 128 members of the recently made known upper house called the Regional Representatives Council.

The couple chambers form the MPR, Indonesia's national legislature.

A political party that nominates a presidential candidate is required to have won at least 5% of eligible ballots cast in a general election or 3% of seats in the lower house beneath the election law.

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