Jakarta - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who
is seeking another term in next week's presidential election,
attacked his opponents' 'extreme' campaign promises as candidates
wrapped up their campaigning on Saturday.
Yudhoyono, addressing a rally attended by thousands of his
supporters at Jakarta's Bung Karno main stadium, said he was no
'Superman that could turn things around overnight.'
'Peace-loving Indonesians want a leader who solves problems
peacefully and constitutionally, who does not have radical and
extreme thoughts' Yudhoyono said.
Indonesians head to the polls July 8.
Yudhoyono's main rival, former president Megawati Sukarnoputri,
has promised to create double-digit growth, reschedule Indonesia's
foreign debt, and promote agriculture and fisheries to double the
nation's per capita annual income to 40 million rupiahs(4,000
dollars).
Indonesia is expected to post positive growth of between 3 and 4
per cent, despite the ongoing global financial crisis.
Megawati's running mate, former general Prabowo Subianto, has been
accused by activists of human rights violations during his time in
the military under former dictator Suharto.
Yudhoyono, himself a former general, is the favourite to win the
election with a popularity rating at more than 50 per cent.
His government has been credited with establishing political and
economic stability as well as overseeing a strong anti-corruption
drive.
He has picked a respected economist and former central bank
governor, Boedono, as his running mate in an effort to boost his
economic credentials.
The other candidate is Jusuf Kalla, the current vice president and
head of the Golkar Party, once Suharto's political vehicle.
He has claimed credit for some of government successes, including
the peace pact that ended decades of separatist conflict in Aceh
province, and has painted the president as indecisive.
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