In an Australian television interview, Justice Minister Muladi said he wanted a special agency to be formed to investigate the Suharto family's assets, which are estimated at tens of billions of dollars.

Pressure is growing in Indonesia for an investigation into the wealth of the former president and his family.

The BBC correspondent in Jakarta says that Indonesian newspapers are now openly alleging corruption by relatives of the former president, and thousands of Indonesians have been withdrawing their money from Bank Central Asia, which is partly owned by Mr Suharto's children.

Mr Muladi said any investigation into the Suharto fortune would have to be based on national consensus. He also said the process would require a presidential decree, a cabinet decree, and the approval of the Attorney General.

Business people who once sought links with the first family are now cutting ties with the Suhartos.

IMF urges action

Indonesian Finance Minister Ginanjar Kartasasmita with the IMF's Hubert Neiss

Mr Suharto's departure from office has not solved the economic crisis.

The Asia director of the International Monetary Fund, Hubert Neiss, completed a five-day visit to Jakarta with a warning that the economy was still deteriorating rapidly, and said action to arrest the decline must be taken as soon as possible.