Reuters in Manila – President Abdurrahman Wahid, threatened with impeachment by a hostile Parliament, offered yesterday to reconcile differences with opponents in the legislature and the military.

Mr Wahid, speaking during a visit to the Philippines and appearing to step back from comments he made in Australia, said he was 100 per cent confident he would not be impeached and that sacking top generals was not an option.

The frail Muslim cleric had told Australian radio earlier in a tour that also took him to New Zealand that he would be willing to call a state of emergency if legislators insisted on pursuing an August 1 impeachment hearing over his erratic 20-month rule.

But he sounded conciliatory in Manila. "I look forward to the so-called political reconciliation which will be used to develop the idea of co-operation between the legislative and executive branches," he said at Manila airport shortly before leaving for home after a three-hour visit. "After my return to Jakarta, I will work for that," he said.

However, he added: "There is no sacking in the military, except in the case of emergency. But the emergency thing is the last thing to come and it should be decided collectively, including by them, not only by myself." Police and Indonesia's top generals, including the army chief, have made it clear they oppose a state of emergency, which would freeze all parliamentary processes and result in a snap election. It would also allow the arrest of Mr Wahid's opponents.

"I hope we can find a win-win solution with the Parliament without violating the constitution," Mr Wahid said. Asked if he believed he would survive an impeachment threat against him, he replied: "I will not be impeached and I will survive 100 per cent." There had been talk in Jakarta that Mr Wahid would sack top generals, but the President played this down. "As for the armed forces, I think if things go like now, then there is no need for a replacement within the ranks," he said.

Mr Wahid, who left Australia about an hour late after a problem with his Boeing 747's cockpit window, arrived in the Philippine capital mid-morning and was immediately driven to the Malacanang palace for talks with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Mr Wahid said Mrs Arroyo told him of Manila's appreciation for his efforts in trying to find a solution to the Muslim separatist conflict in the southern Philippines. They also talked about economic co-operation, especially in fisheries, Mr Wahid said.

Manila is considering Jakarta as one of the possible "alternative venues" for peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a rebel group fighting for a Muslim homeland in the south of the Philippines.

Mr Wahid's administration has previously offered to host peace talks between the Philippine Government and the rebels as Indonesia is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference. The Philippine Government and the rebels signed an agreement in Libya on June 22 to implement a four-year-old ceasefire accord.