Washington – The United States has reaffirmed its position that rooting out graft is key to economic growth following Jakarta's move to charge former president Suharto with corruption.

"Combating corruption through legal action and by improving the way business and government operate is essential to economic progress and good governance, not only in Indonesia but in all nations," the State Department said in a statement released here.

However, it said that "it's up to the Indonesian people and their government to decide how to pursue specific corruption investigations and prosecution".

"Given popular calls for firm and resolute investigation and follow up of this matter in Indonesia, we expect that the issue of corruption will continue to be the focus of debate and legal action there," it added.

State prosecutors charged the former president with corruption on Thursday, bringing him a step closer to a criminal trial.