Key US trip for Indonesia leader

By Tim Johnston
BBC News, Jakarta

Mr Yudhoyono will hold talks with George Bush

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is heading to Washington for his first official visit to the US since he was elected last year.

Relations between Washington and the world's most populous Muslim nation have been steadily improving.

Mr Yudhoyono's administration hopes his visit will cement the relationship.

The US has criticised the authoritarian tendencies of previous governments in Jakarta, but Mr Yudhoyono has pledged to improve democracy.

The US has restricted contacts with the Indonesian military because of its brutal human rights record.

Arms ban

Washington still imposes some restrictions on weapons sales and military training - restrictions that both the administration of President Bush and the Indonesian government are keen to see repealed.

During his trip, the Indonesian president is also likely to thank the US government and people for their assistance after December's earthquake and tsunami.

The benefits of this visit flow two ways.

Indonesia's government does not support the war in Iraq. A public display of warmth between Presidents Bush and Yudhoyono might go some way to answer critics who believe the war on terror is a war on Islam.