Jakarta – Indonesian opposition leaders yesterday issued a joint declaration calling for a presidential election in August next year, three months ahead of President B.J. Habibie's timetable.

The politicians – Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, Mr Amien Rais, Mr Abdurrahman Wahid and Sultan Hamengkubowono of Yogyakarta – made the call in an eight-point manifesto read out at Mr Abdurrahman's home.

Their other demands, issued after a meeting with reformist student leaders, included a phasing-out of the military's role in politics over six years, decentralisation of power to the provinces and an independent election-monitoring body. They also called for a "thorough" probe of the alleged wealth accumulated by former President Suharto during his 32 years in power and the disbanding of vigilante forces recruited by the military.

Other opposition figures at the meeting included former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, owner of the Medco business group Arifin Panigoro, former Golkar secretary-general Rachmat Witoelar, businessman Setiawan Jodhi, and retired General Kemal Idris.

East Timorese Nobel laureate Bishop Carlos Belo, who was invited, said he could not attend, but sent a letter which was read out to journalists. In it, he said he agreed with four basic proposals, namely that:

the present government should be declared transitional;

free and democratic elections should be held;

a new Constitution should be drawn up;

and the political role of the military should be reduced.