May 17, 2004 6:51am
Associated Press WorldStream

JAKARTA, Indonesia_Indonesia wants East Timor to block an arrest warrant against retired general Wiranto, a candidate in Indonesia's presidential race who has been indicted for war crimes in the half-island nation, the top Indonesian military officer said Monday.

Earlier this month, a U.N.-backed court based in East Timor's capital Dili issued the warrant against Wiranto for his alleged role in the atrocities committed in the former Indonesian province when it voted for independence in 1999.

U.N. prosecutors indicted Wiranto last year for his alleged command responsibility for "murder, deportation and persecution" committed during 1999.

Wiranto has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said the accusations were aimed at undermining his candidacy. The Golkar party of former dictator Suharto nominated Wiranto last month as its candidate for presidential elections to be held on July 5.

During the weekend, East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao met his Indonesian counterpart Megawati Sukarnoputri on the resort island of Bali.

"We sought an understanding from Xanana that if the case continues it will not be good for (Indonesia's) situation ahead of the presidential election," Indonesian military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said Monday before a Cabinet meeting

"We need reconciliation and to look to the future of our countries' relationship, rather than resurrect the past," said Sutarto, who attended the Bali meeting. "And Xanana welcomed the initiative."

The chief prosecutor in the capital, Dili, also said last week he would try to revoke the warrant against Wiranto, saying it was premature and that the case needed further review.

On Sunday, East Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta said East Timor wants to find a solution "acceptable to all" for the crimes committed in 1999 in which at least 1,500 people died.

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