ASEAN chief, Palestinian envoy visit Soeharto

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and
Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Fariz Mehdawi visited critically
-ill Soeharto at Pertamina Hospital here on Tuesday.

Pitsuwan, a former Thai foreign minister, arrived at the hospital at 10.45 am local time and left at 11.10 am.

Responding to press questions, the ASEAN chief said briefly that
according to information from the presidential physicians` team
Soeharto`s condition was okay.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Mehdawi, wearing an Indonesian batik shirt, arrived at the time Pitsuwan was leaving the hospital.

Among foreign dignitaries who visited Soeharto during the past few days
were also former Singaporean prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, former
Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Muhammad and Brunei`s King Sultan
Hassanal Bolkiah.

"I feel sad to see a very old friend with whom I had worked closely
over the last 30 years, not really getting the honors that he
deserves," Lee told journalists for Singapore media after the visit,
according to a Channel News Asia report as quoted by Reuters.

Soeharto was hospitalized 12 days ago for multiple organ failure after
a decline in the functions of his heart, lungs and kidneys. (*) END

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