Fresh discussions on Asian financial crisis

The Japanese Prime Minister, Ryutaro Hashimoto, and President Clinton have discussed the Asian financial crisis in a telephone conversation.

Reports say the two leaders agreed that the International Monetary Fund's recommendations on Indonesia's economy were important for the country's recovery.

Meanwhile, the American Deputy Treasury secretary, Lawrence Summers, is reported to have met President Suharto of Indonesia.

The Prime Minister of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong, and the American Defence Secretary, William Cohen, were due to arrive in Jakarta today.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service