Indonesian vice-president to visit Libya end of september

Indonesia's Vice President Hamzah Haz will pay a visit to Libya at the end of this month to represent President Megawati Soekarnoputri at a meeting with Libyan Leader Muammar Khadafi.

The Libyan leader is keen on meeting Megawati to exchange ideas and build strong cooperation, House Deputy Speaker AM Fatwa was quoted by Indonesian news agency ANTARA as saying, following a meeting with Megawati at the presidential palace on Wednesday.

Fatwa said Khadafi expressed his desire to meet Megawati when a number of Indonesian legislators paid a courtesy call on him last month.

"Mrs Mega warmly welcomes Khadafi's invitation. But she is still choosing the proper time to visit the country. For the time being, it is the vice president who will visit Libya," he said.

Libya is keen on enhancing bilateral relations with Indonesia and has asked Jakarta to open an embassy in Tripoli, he said.

Indonesian interests in Libya are currently represented by its embassy in Tunisia. Libya opened its embassy in Jakarta in 1992.