Jakarta – People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais warned Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri to be alert to any pressure from the United States as it seeks support for its plan to invade Iraq.

"We are an independent and sovereign country. Our government should not bow to other governments, whether it is Washington, Moscow, Tokyo, London or Beijing," Amien said as quoted by Antara on Wednesday.

Amien's comments were in response to White House comments that US President George W. Bush had telephoned President Megawati on Monday to discuss Iraq and the ongoing war on terrorism.

"The [US] President talked to President Megawati about his speech at the UN and his approach to Saddam Hussein's defiance of more than a decade of UN Security Council resolutions," White House national security spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Amien said if Bush's phone call aimed to seek support from President Megawati, Indonesia should have a clear stance. "Take care of [the problem] by yourself, and do not drag Indonesia into it," Amien said of the prolonged US and Iraq conflict.

Last week, Megawati issued a joint statement with Egyptian President Hosni Mobarak, urging the international community to settle the Iraq issue through the UN Security Council.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, has received special attention from the US, especially after the latter launched its war on terrorism following the September 11 attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon last year.