Jakarta – Indonesia said yesterday its new Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono will soon visit the United States to lobby for an end to an arms embargo imposed over the Indonesian military's role in atrocities committed in the former East Timor.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said it would take place early next year at the latest.

Mr Sudarsono, appointed last month by new President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has said he was willing to travel to the US to brief officials about his country's need for US arms and other military equipment.

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

Last month, outgoing US ambassador Ralph Boyce said Jakarta had "missed its opportunity" to restore military ties by failing to make its soldiers accountable for the abuses. US officials have expressed disappointment at the outcome of Indonesian tribunals set up to try them.