The Indonesian president, Abdurrahman Wahid, who is on a two-day visit to India, has held discussions aimed at deepening economic ties between the two countries.

His talks with the Indian prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, also ranged on global and regional issues.

Indonesia¿s foreign minister, Alwi Shihab, said his country particularly wanted greater co-operation in the natural gas sector and also sought increased joint ventures in small and medium industries -- a sector he said India excelled in. Earlier, President Wahid reaffirmed that he will ask the former military chief, General Wiranto, to resign as security minister because of charges that he had been involved in last year's violence in East Timor.

In Jakarta, the speaker of parliament, Akbar Tandjung, said in an interview that Mr Wahid should be more cautious when making controversial statements.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service