Washington – The United States said Tuesday the reported abduction and torture of an opposition activist in Indonesia was disturbing, and urged the Jakarta government to mount a full investigation.

"It's a disturbing story," State Department spokesman James Foley said of the case of Pius Lustrilanang, a 30-year-old student activist.

Pius, who disappeared Feb. 3 and resurfaced April 4, told a news conference Monday he had been kidnapped, beaten and subjected to electric shocks. He said the armed forces should take responsibility, but Army chief Gen. Wiranto has said that no senior officer had ordered any abductions.

"The United States government deplores the practice of torture and the practice of disappearances," Foley told a news briefing.

"We call on the government of Indonesia to conduct a full investigation into these serious allegations made by this individual."

Foley said Washington was also deeply concerned about the numerous other cases of people, many of them opposition activists, who allegedly have disappeared in recent months.

"We have raised this issue at high levels with the government of Indonesia and will continue to pursue the matter until the cases are resolved," he said, adding that anyone involved in abductions or torture should be held accountable.

At least 14 student activists have been reported missing since protests began in February against President Suharto, just before he was re-elected to a seventh five-year term by a body he largely hand-picked.

The student protesters blame Suharto for Indonesia's worst economic crisis in decades.

Earlier Tuesday in Tokyo, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Indonesia's lack of democracy was hurting its economic recovery.