Indonesian's top security minister, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is reportedly preferred over incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri as the country's next president.

According to a poll conducted by the Centre for the Study of Development and Democracy ,13 percent of 3,000 respondents in 13 provinces have picked Mr Yudhoyono. Mrs Megawati trails in second place with seven percent.

Six percent of the respondents have picked national assembly speaker, Amien Rais and an equal number want parliament speaker, Akbar Tanjung. Just five percent favor Vice President Hamzah Haz.

Indonesians, for the first time, will directly elect their president next year. No date has yet been set for the poll but it is expected to follow parliamentary elections on April 5.

Mrs Megawati has indicated she intends to seek re-election while Mr Yudhoyono has not declared his position.