INDONESIA FORMER LEADER SUHARTO DIES
Radio Netherland Worldwide - January 27, 2008Jakarta - Indonesia has declared a week of mourning for former President Suharto, who has died at the age of 86.
He died on Sunday morning at a hospital in Jakarta where he was admitted three weeks ago with heart, lung and kidney problems.
The former leader will be buried in a family grave in Solo on Monday during a state funeral led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. President Yudhoyono has urged Indonesians to pray for Suharto, calling him 'a great leader'.
During Suharto's 32 years of office, Indonesia underwent swift economic growth.
The former general became president in 1967, two years after a failed communist coup. He was forced from office in 1998 amid mass protests.
Source: Radio Netherland Worldwide - www.radionetherlands.nl