Jakarta – Indonesia's fight against terrorism is being hampered by a US military embargo, President Megawati Sukarnoputri said Wednesday.

"I seek the understanding of the West in tackling this issue. We need resources," she told Singapore's Channel NewsAsia in an interview due to air Wednesday evening.

"As I told US President George W. Bush, I am unable to overcome terrorism quickly and in a sophisticated way if the US imposes a military embargo. And they do not provide logistical assistance.So we need to work together," Megawati said. However she added: "That was two years ago and now we are cooperating."

Washington halted most military-to-military contacts after the Indonesian military ran riot in East Timor in 1999. US legislators want an accounting for these and other abuses before the ties can resume.

Megawati was speaking in an interview conducted on March 26th. The station provided an English translation of her replies to questions. The president, who rarely gives interviews, was responding to a question about obstacles in tackling terror attacks.