The new Indonesian government has promised to hold parliamentary elections as soon as possible, but it hasn't set a date.

A government spokesman said the electoral laws, which restrict political activity, would first have to be amended -- and that could take several months.

The holding of early elections was a key demand of the pro-democracy demonstrators who forced the resignation of former President Suharto last week.

But the BBC Jakarta correspondent says that after thirty-two years of strict authoritarian rule, the task of building a viable system of democracy will not be easy.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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