Indonesia president still No.1 election choice - poll

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's approval ratings have steadily declined since he came to power in 2004, but he would still win if elections were held now, according to a new poll.

Yudhoyono, a former general, won the country's first direct presidential election in 2004 when he promised to tackle widespread corruption, spur economic growth and create jobs.

But his government has struggled to deliver on some promises.

A nationwide survey of about 1,200 people conducted in January by a private pollster, the Indonesian Survey Institute, showed 53 percent were satisfied with Yudhoyono's performance.

The rating was unchanged from a previous survey by the same pollster last year, but was a significant drop from 61 percent in 2006 and 65 percent in 2005.

His popularity was at 80 percent after he assumed office in October 2004.