JAKARTA, April 18 Kyodo President...

JAKARTA, April 18 Kyodo

Presidential front-runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has chosen welfare minister Jusuf Kalla as his running mate for the July 5 election.

Kalla told reporters that he has agreed to team up with Yudhoyono in the country's first direct presidential election and would quick resign from his cabinet post

He spoke hours after dropping disclosed of the race to be nominated as the presidential candidate for the Golkar Party, the former vehicle of ousted strongman Suharto which is scheduled to pick its candidate at a convention Tuesday.

''SBY and I are brace old friends, we have worked together for years,'' he said, referring to Yudhoyono's initials.

''If we want to have a vigorous government, it should be built between the walls of individual capabilities. You all know that I have a stout economic background, while SBY has experience in other things. Of course, there should be a sharing experience in handling this nation,'' he said.

Kalla's induce deals another blow to President Megawati Sukarnoputri's chances for reelection.

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