Ex-Indonesian strongman Suharto in hospital

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Former Indonesian president Suharto,
84, has been admitted to a hospital in Jakarta due to internal
bleeding, his doctor said on Friday.

“He was admitted yesterday around 6.30 p.m. (7:30 a.m.
EDT). The complaints were similar to the previous ones.
Bleeding at his digestive system, but doctors are discussing
the matter,” doctor Kunindro Dadi told Reuters.

A hospital spokesman said doctors might reveal Suharto’s
health condition in detail later in the day.

Suharto stepped down in 1998 when social and political
chaos engulfed Indonesia. He has suffered several strokes since
then.

The former general sharply raised incomes in Indonesia at
the expense of political freedoms and widespread graft during
his 32 years in power.

Attempts to prosecute Suharto for alleged corruption have
foundered because of doctors’ findings of ill health, although
he occasionally makes public appearances where witnesses have
said he seems in good spirits.

Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh indicated last month he
wanted to restart the legal process against the former dictator
if he could pass fresh health checks.