Washington – Indonesia's struggle for democracy is facing tough challenges and must be supported from the outside, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Tuesday. "Today Indonesia is nearer the goal of true democracy than it has ever been, but the struggle is far from over," Albright said in a speech at the Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies.

"And our job, which reflects our interests, is to ensure that the Indonesians don't struggle alone," she said, urging support for the Southeast Asian country's new President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Albright's comments came just four days after the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, delivered a blunt warning to the Indonesian military against staging a coup.

"We would view this with the most, the greatest possible concern," Holbrooke told reporters on Friday, adding that any military officers "thinking of military adventurism have forgotten that we are now in the 21st century."

Holbrooke spoke as rumors of a possible coup have swept Jakarta with military officers grumbling about Wahid's desire to dilute their power. On Saturday, US ambassador to Indonesia Robert Gelbard delivered a message of support to Wahid from President Bill Clinton.

Albright made no mention of Holbrooke's warning but listed Indonesia and safeguarding its transition to democracy as one of four priorities for US foreign policy in the coming year.

She said that Wahid deserved support for his efforts to stabilize the Indonesian economy, put the military under civilian control, establish the rule of law and protect human rights, but noted that those challenges were "simple to identify but devilishly difficult to achieve."

"The new president is widely respected for his humanity and wisdom but to succeed he must make tough decisions and explain them in terms his people will understand and accept," Albright said.

She paid tribute to the Indonesian people for choosing a new president in a democratic election last year while dealing with a variety of crises including the economy, East Timor and other separatist violence and added that the United States would continue to support Wahid.

"We will continue to deepen our investment in light of Indonesia's importance and in response to Indonesia's request and needs," Albright said.