Jakarta – Former Indonesian president Soeharto, facing accusations of corruption and self-enrichment on a vast scale, can expect to be amnestied – but not his family or cronies, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid was quoted as saying today.

In an interview in the latest edition of the German news magazine Der Spiegel due to be published Monday, Wahid said: "Of course he [Soeharto] should go on trial. I have already instructed the state prosecutors. But after he is found guilty, I shall pardon him.

"However, I shall give an amnesty only to Soeharto and [his successor as president] Habibie – and certainly not to their clans.

As a young nation, we must respect our former heads of state. In Soeharto's case that's only a biological question anyway – he will not live much longer."

Soeharto faces a raft of accusations stemming from his 32-year rule, including self-enrichment, corruption, and using the armed forces to crack down on political opponents, holding the vast Indonesian archipelago together by force and intimidation.

Asked if he had the confidence to prosecute leading figures in military in all this, Wahid told Der Spiegel: "Don't worry. That will happen."

Asked if this also applied to General Wiranto, now coordinating minister of security and political affairs in Wahid's own cabinet, and former Soeharto right-hand man, Wahid said: "No."

He explained that if the country's new human rights commission found Wiranto guilty of the brutal repression in East Timor during its 24 years of annexation and its recent violent end, then "I shall ask for his resignation, but will spare him. But not others".

He continued: "My principle is: We have to respect the institutions and punish the individuals. Wiranto symbolises the institution of the army."

Wahid said he had every understanding for international concern over current and recent ethnic violence in several regions, but insisted that authorities were close to dealing with it effectively.