Jay Solomon, Jakarta – Abdurrahman Wahid, the chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, ruled out supporting opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri for president. Instead, he said NU and its main political arm, the National Awakening Party, or PKB, would back either himself or the Sultan of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamungkubuwono X.

Wahid and Megawati have talked of forming a coalition between their two parties following Indonesia's June 7 parliamentary elections. Wahid said he still expected this to occur and that together they would garner between 60% to 70% of the parliamentary seats up for election.

PKB's support of Megawati for president, however, is "out of the question," Wahid said in an interview Tuesday with Dow Jones Newswires, "as I can't guarantee our 'Ulamas' (Islamic leaders) will support her."

Some Islamic leaders within NU believe that a woman can't lead the nation, Wahid said. "They believe it's against current Islamic law."

Wahid said he would be PKB's presidential candidate provided continuing attempts to restore his vision succeed. The NU leader has been left nearly blind following a stroke last year. The prospects for his recovery will be known in around a month, he said.

The PKB would support the Sultan of Yogyakarta because he's seen as honest and independent of former President Suharto, Wahid said. "Maybe he's better than Megawati," he added.

Wahid also said he believed Megawati, the chairman of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI Perjuangan, would agree to support a presidential bid by the Sultan.