JAKARTA Indonesia's new President B.J. Habibie has hinted he might be ready to hold new elections, a leading Muslim politican Sunday quoted the president as saying. There was no immediate confirmation from the presidential palace. He (Habibie) told me it would take at least six months to carry out reforms, including laws related to really democratic elections and to establish a very stable executive council, Amien Rais said on television.

If really pushed they (the election laws) could be ready in six months, Rais, head of the 28-million strong Muhammadiya Islamic Movement, quoted Habibie as telling him at a meeting on Saturday night. Rais also said he thought the president understood the aspirations of the people and that he appeared willing to carry out reforms. The media, the parliament and social groups should play a watchdog role in ensuring the reforms are carried out, said Rais who has been among the many politicians urging Habibie to serve only as a transitional president.

When Suharto stunned the nation by stepping down and appointing Habibie, then his vice president, to replace him Thursday, he said the new president should serve out the rest of his five-year term, until 2003. Rais said the Habibie government had to concentrate on regaining public confidence, containing inflation, stabilizing the rupiah and releasing political detainees. (AFP)