Indonesia to put off arms purchases

Officials in Indonesia have said the modernisation of the country's armed forces may have to be delayed as a result of the current financial crisis.

They said armed purchases abroad will have to be reduced or frozen.

A spokesman for the military Brigadier-general Wahab Mokodongan was reported as saying that Indonesia would delay the purchase from Russia of 12 Sukhoi fighter planes, part of an agreement with Moscow which also envisages the delivery of military helicopters.

He did not say whether the helicopter deal would go ahead.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service