Jakarta – Former president Abdurahman "Gus Dur" Wahid says he will support former minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra in the presidential election next year.

Gus Dur, a patron of the National Awakening Party (PKB), told a press conference on Saturday he must support other candidates, if later he could not run for president himself.

"I have to support other candidates, and the one who is closest to me is Yusril," he said after receiving Yusril at the Nahdlatul Ulama office, Antara news agency reported Sunday.

Yusril, who is chairman of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) advisory board, admitted he had discussed his intention to run for president with Gus Dur. "We have known each other, been close friends and helped each other since 1999," he said.

Yusril, along with Gus Dur and Megawati Soekarnoputri all took part in the presidential election in 1999, but at the last moment he dropped out of the race and supported Gus Dur, who was then elected as the fourth president of Indonesia.

With support from Gus Dur, Yusril said, he was more optimistic about his chances in the election. "God willing, we will move forward and never retreat," he said. (dre)