Jakarta – Five political parties in Indonesia are ready to declare their support for National Mandate Party (PAN) presidential candidate Amien Rais, PAN secretary-general Yasin Kara said yesterday.

They are the Marhaenism National Party, the Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK), the Reform Star Party (PBR), the United Indonesia Party (PSI) and the Socialist Democratic Labour Party (PBSD).

"The political parties will declare their support during a meeting to be held at the Kafe Tenda Senayan restaurant today," he was quoted by the state news agency Antara as saying. The choice of an open-air restaurant for the declaration of the parties' support for Mr Amien and his vice-presidential candidate Siswono Yudhohusodo shows the people that it is not an exclusive gathering, he said.

The parties had previously chosen the Al Azhar mosque as the venue, said Mr Yasin, who is on Mr Amien's campaign team. He said the parties were planning to hold the declaration of support last week but the timing did not work out.

Mr Amien recently said it was not easy to unite so many parties: "The coalition is made for a national leader so it must be formed carefully."