Hong Kong - The new Indonesian President, Mr B. J. Habibie, yesterday narrowed down the timing of promised elections, saying the country would have to wait until the end of next year for a new parliament.
Mr Habibie said a special meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly is needed to pave the way for the elections. By the end of 1999 "we will then have a new parliament" and be in a position to elect a new president and vice president, he said.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's National Commission on Hum an Rights said last month's riots in the capital and surrounding areas left 1,118 people dead, far higher than the 500 deaths authorities had claimed.
