Jakarta, March 11: Indonesia is scrambling to defend President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after US diplomats allegedly accused him of bribery, intimidation and self-enrichment.
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told a news conference today that the claims “had no foundation in fact”.
A string of leaked US diplomatic cables were provided exclusively to Fairfax Media and published in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers.
They say the reform-minded Yudhoyono was trying to influence judges and prosecutors to protect his own corrupt political allies.
The published cables said Yudhoyono used the intelligence service to spy on his rivals and that his family took advantage of his position for their own personal gain.
——–Agencies