Sonya Ross, Washington – Federal investigators looking into alleged fund-raising abuses by Democrats questioned President Clinton extensively about his ties to Indonesian businessman James Riady, dating back to his 1992 White House campaign.

Jakarta – Indonesian police authorities have arrested seven of their own senior officers and are hunting down another one in what appeared to be a clean up of the force following Abdurrahman Wahid's sacking, police said Tuesday.

I Made Sentana, Jakarta – Indonesia's new President Megawati Sukarnoputri faces a tough balancing act between building a workable political coalition and fulfilling hopes among financial market players to appoint economic technocrats, analysts say.

In the months leading up to President Abdurrahman Wahid's removal as president yesterday, American State Department officials and the National Security Council developed a contingency plan that calls for the quick resumption of economic aid to Jakarta if his successor, Megawati Sukarnoputri, begins to carry out economic reforms.

Hong Kong – Megawati Sukarnoputri may well put Indonesia on the path to political stability, but even then it may not be smooth enough to tempt back emerging market investors whose sentiment is soured by external volatility.

Jakarta – Indonesia's first leader, President Sukarno, was ousted from office 35 years ago by right-wing army generals. On Monday, Sukarno's daughter rose to the presidency on a wave of support from the military brass – still this nation's kingmakers.

Seth Mydans, Jakarta – When she was still something of a neophyte six years ago, Megawati Sukarnoputri spoke with wonder about the hard work of politics. The most difficult thing to learn, she said, was patience.

"It's only human that I have ups and downs," she said then. "I've had to train myself to remain clear and detached in the face of problems."

Seth Mydans, Jakarta – In the most peaceful transfer of power in Indonesia's history, Megawati Sukarnoputri was sworn in as president today, moments after the nation's top legislative body voted to cut short the fractious and rudderless tenure of her predecessor.

Jakarta – The Indonesian armed forces yesterday staged one of the biggest show of force seen in the capital in years. Another convoy of 40 armoured vehicles of the Jakarta military command also converged on the central square from East Jakarta.

Jakarta – Indonesian MPs Monday opened a special session which could impeach President Abdurrahman Wahid, even though he issued a decree disbanding parliament. Following is a chronology of his 21 months in power:

1999

Vaudine England, Jakarta – Despite two bombs in the morning and a gathering of forces for a major political showdown today, it was hard to find signs of concern outside Parliament building yesterday afternoon.

Vaudine England, Jakarta – Chinese sports officials have decided to withdraw their badminton team from next week's Indonesian Open Championship, citing the unstable political situation in the capital.

Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – The seemingly endless battle between the Indonesian Parliament and President Abdurrahman Wahid over who should rule the country has left the government with little time to focus on the business of running Indonesia.

Muklis Ali, Jakarta – Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid on Friday stood by a threat to declare a state of emergency to counter fresh efforts to impeach him, edging the country closer to a potentially explosive showdown.

Jakarta – In a new twist to Indonesia's political turmoil, the national assembly chairman Friday warned President Abdurrahman Wahid he would face a snap impeachment hearing if he swore in a new police chief.

Lee Siew Hua, Washington – The United States said turmoil in Indonesia will threaten its immediate neighbours and hollow out Asean, while endangering US strategic goals.

Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – They call him King Rat. Of many influential Indonesians plotting the downfall of President Abdurrahman Wahid, none is doing more to undermine his rule than Surojo Bimantoro, the national police chief.

Jakarta – General Wiranto, the former Indonesian military commander blamed for the violence surrounding East Timor's 1999 independence vote, emerged Friday as a possible vice-president if President Abdurrahman Wahid is forced to quit.

Ian Timberlake, Jakarta – President Abdurrahman Wahid's threat to declare a state of emergency tonight is a deliberate tactic to foster negotiations with his political opponents, according to observers. "It's psychological warfare," said Arbi Sanit, a political-science lecturer at the University of Indonesia.

Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – Some of Jakarta's most influential political leaders are trying to broker a last-minute compromise to save President Abdurrahman Wahid from impeachment.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – Indonesia's defiant police chief General Suroyo Bimantoro yesterday promoted and reshuffled 138 middle-ranking officers, in an apparent bid to garner more support within the fractured police force.

Jakarta – The shocking escape of an army soldier, held on charges related to last year's bombing of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) building, has sparked a furore among the authorities, with the military police chief's head being the first to roll.

Jakarta – Despite the faint glimmer of a possible compromise, Indonesians were Thursday bracing for President Abdurrahman Wahid to make good his threat to declare a state of emergency to stave off an impeachment move. Late on Wednesday he renewed his threat to declare a state of emergency, plunging Indonesia into another bout of uncertainty.

Teh Jen Lee – The haze caused by fires set to clear land for plantations may be less severe over South-east Asia this year because of lower palm-oil prices. Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association president Derom Bangun said the low prices would discourage companies from increasing the plantation areas.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military and the National Police reconfirmed on Monday their opposition to President Abdurrahman Wahid's intention to declare a state of emergency ahead of the planned People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) session.

Jakarta – The Central Jakarta District Court started hearing on Monday a lawsuit filed by five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) against the government for its failure to prevent the bloodshed in Sampit, Central Kalimantan, between February and March this year.

Jakarta – Political activists are calling for an act of civil disobedience by rejecting all regulations, policies and taxes imposed by the government and the House of Representatives.

Kupang Pos, Kupang – Political discourse on the formation of an Independent Timor (Negara Timor Raya-NTR) within East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) West Timor is treated seriously by TNI Indonesian Military Forces . Nine/Udayana Military Area Commander Maj-Gen William da Costa has stressed that if an NTR is declared, TNI will take strong action against the perpetrators.

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – A defiant General Suroyo Bimantoro, the sacked national police chief, said yesterday that President Abdurrahman Wahid's supporters would engineer mass unrest three days before his impeachment hearing on August 1.

Jakarta – Indonesian police said yesterday they suspected a concerted bombing campaign was under way after a woman was injured in the second blast here in less than a week. Two cars were also damaged in the blast under a flyover in South Jakarta.

Joanne Collins, Jakarta – The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday it was still aiming to release a delayed $400 million loan to Indonesia next month, erasing fears an agreement was many weeks away.

Robert Go, Jakarta – It's just trash for most people, but some Jakarta residents are finding novel ways of using garbage to help build their impoverished community.

G.K. Goh, Jakarta – Indonesia is targeting economic growth of 3.0-3.5 percent this year and inflation of below 10 percent by year-end, according to the draft agreement between the government and the International Monetary Fund.

Jakarta – Indonesians are bracing for a stormy countdown to the August 1 national assembly session which will decide the fate of embattled Abdurrahman Wahid, the country's first freely-elected president.

Max Lane – There are now more political prisoners in Indonesia than there were during the last 12 months of General Suharto's 32-year rule. There are at least seven leaders of the West Papua independence movement in jail, some now on trial for so-called political offences.

Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – The current standoff between Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and his police chief, and within the top ranks of the force, could lead to a dangerous showdown in Jakarta, say analysts.

Sacked police chief General Suroyo Bimantoro's refusal to step down, has split a demoralised police force already suffering from discipline problems.

Robert Go, Jakarta – A new draft agreement between the International Monetary Fund and Indonesia will impose fewer conditions and targets for the country, in what is perhaps an admission that IMF's past policies for the country may have missed the mark.

Agencies in Cirebon and Jakarta – Isolated and facing open defiance within the police force, President Abdurrahman Wahid said yesterday he will declare a state of emergency next Friday unless lawmakers abandon their drive to impeach him. Political opponents said if Mr Wahid went ahead with his threat, they would hold a snap impeachment hearing.

Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – Thursday's order to arrest Indonesia's sacked police chief Bimantoro and yesterday's backdown from the arrest indicate that President Abdurrahman Wahid is willing to fight to the end in his bid to cling to power, said analysts.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – It is personal ambition, not political partisanship, that is fuelling a dispute between middle and high-ranking officers over who should lead the Indonesian police force, according to police sources here.

Jakarta – Top Army officials held on Friday a closed-door consolidation meeting at Wiladatika field in Cibubur, East Jakarta on Friday canceling the weekly Friday sports event between the police and military.

Surabaya – East Java's security forces were ready to anticipate possible outbreaks of violence, ahead of the August1 special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), police chief Insp. Gen Sutanto said on Thursday.

Jakarta – Indonesian police who rushed to their commander's home to protect him from arrest pulled back overnight after President Abdurrahman Wahid appeared to back down.

Robert Go, Jakarta – A long-delayed International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan tranche to Indonesia, worth around US$400 million (S$728 million), would be released next month. But this was likely to happen only after Jakarta's political questions were resolved, a key Indonesian adviser and analysts said yesterday.

Jakarta – Indonesian legislators have asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to write off the country's foreign debts, including those to other donors recommended by the Fund.

Vaudine England, Jakarta – President Abdurrahman Wahid yesterday ordered the arrest of the police chief he has been trying to sack for weeks, widening the struggle over his impeachment by raising fresh allegations of politicking by the police.

Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. sounded on Thursday his strong support for stern measures taken by joint-security troops to restore law and order in strife-torn Ambon.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – A three-day registration period now under way for the start of the new school year is bringing smiles – and extra income – to teachers and education officials ever eager to offer their "services" to frantic parents.

Jakarta – Smoke haze attributed to underground fires continued to choke the city of Pontianak on Indonesian Borneo Thursday, local officials said.

John McBeth, Jakarta – Smartly dressed in a suit, tie and polished shoes, the nervous Indonesian visa applicant gave the American consular official interviewing him a strange feeling that he wasn't the businessman he claimed. So the official, drawing on years of experience, asked him to take the ultimate test: Undo and re-knot his tie. Shamefaced, the man couldn't do it.