Jakarta – Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri wants army chief General Endriartono Sutarto to head the armed forces, replacing Admiral Widodo Adisucipto.

A legislator from her political party said yesterday that Ms Megawati will nominate Gen Sutarto for parliament's approval when it resumes its session in May after a two-month break.

She believes her candidate is clean, loyal to the government and the President and dedicated to the armed forces and the state, said Mr Cahyo Kumolo, secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, as quoted by the state Antara news agency.

Adm Widodo has long passed the mandatory retirement age of 55 and is due to be replaced.

Under the Indonesian system, the president proposes one or more candidates, based on the recommendations of a military rank promotion council, to parliament for approval.

Indonesia's once-powerful military's role has been reduced since former president Suharto resigned in 1998. But it is still a weighty player in Indonesian politics and one of the country's most influential institutions.