Indonesian president voices backing for the Palestinians

Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid on Wednesday expressed his backing for the Palestinians and their right to establish their own independent state.

In a statement he read on Wednesday before senior members of the legislative council in Indonesia, the Indonesian president said his country intends to open a trade office in the Palestinian self-rule territories in January, 2000.

Indonesia decided to postpone a plan to establish trade relations with Israel following popular protests against any step as such.