Jakarta – President Megawati Soekarnoputri, in a rare meeting with the press on Monday, denied responsibility for the pending expulsion of the International Crisis Group (ICG) director in Indonesia, Sidney Jones.

"I never expelled – using your word – this person Sidney Jones," said Megawati, responding to questions from foreign journalists after a brief press conference.

Megawati is one of five candidates contesting the upcoming presidential election on July 5, for which campaigning will begin on Tuesday.

Last week, Indonesia's National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Abdullah Hendropriyono announced that the Brussels-based ICG was on its "watch list" of 20 non-governmental organizations deemed a threat to the country's security.

Jones, a leading authority on the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist organization blamed for a spate of attacks in Indonesia including the October 12, 2002, Bali bombings that killed 202 people, has not had her work papers extended, meaning she will need to leave the country by next week when her visa expires.

"I'm just back from immigration and there was no reprieve yet," said Jones. "If there isn't one by June 10, I have to leave." While the Indonesian government has not officially banned Jones, the failure by authorities to extend her work papers amounts to an expulsion.

"I believe her case is being carried out according to government procedures," said Megawati.

The foreign ministry has also denied responsibility for Jones' expulsion, which has been greeted as a blow to freedom of expression, although Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda acknowledged last week that he didn't think ICG's presence in the country was conducive for security.

ICG has offices in 20 countries worldwide. Under Jones supervision, the ICG has over the past three years published 19 papers on the JI and Indonesian hotspots such as Aceh, Papua, Central Sulawesi and Maluku.

Many of the reports were critical of BIN's role, or lack thereof, in handling security matters. ICG's current director is Gareth Evans, a former foreign minister of Australia.