Health of Indonesia`s Suharto improving : doctors

The ex-president has been in hospital for 17 days with severe heart, lung and kidney problems and suffered multiple organ failure before showing solid signs of recovery in recent days.

"The general condition shows improvement, his level of consciousness is good, Mardjo Sioebiandono, who heads the team of doctors, was quoted by AFP as telling a press briefing here.

Soeharto, 86, is now partly breathing on his own after the tube from the ventilator was removed from his mouth on Saturday and put through an incision in his neck instead, he said.

The former dictator's heart and lungs are also improving and signs of systemic infection are under control," Sioebiandono said, with medics working to overcome infections and provide exercises to restore muscle activity.

The ex-president, who ruled Indonesia for more than three decades, was first admitted to hospital on January 4.

He was connected to a ventilator a week later when he suffered multiple organ failure but has since got better.

"This morning, his consciousness is very good," said another doctor sitting on the team, Jusuf Misbach.

"He can follow orders and even tried to speak even though his voice is still weak. His consciousness has undergone a rapid improvement."

"(He) looks fresher...we are all feeling a relief because in the last few days, the progress of his health has improved," former state secretary and now an acting spokesman for ..