Suharto placed under 'city arrest'

Prosecutors say Mr Suharto can recuperate if he doesn't travel

Former Indonesian President Suharto has been confined to the capital, Jakarta, because of corruption charges against him.

The attorney-general's office said Mr Suharto had been banned from leaving Indonesia for six months, and from leaving Jakarta for 20 days.

If Suharto violates the city arrest, he would be put under house arrest

Purnama Munthe, member of the investigating team

He is accused of using millions of dollars collected for charity during his time in power in Indonesia for the benefit of his own family.

Prosecutors said the restriction was to ensure that the investigation could proceed smoothly; so far, efforts to question Mr Suharto have been delayed by his poor health.

The former president has suffered two strokes in the past year and prosecutors say if he is banned from travelling he should be able to recuperate properly.

'Too ill to face questioning'

The ban follows media reports that that Mr Suharto's family planned to take him to Los Angeles.

But Mr Suharto's defence lawyer, Juan Felix Tampubolon, denied his client planned to leave.

"Suharto does not want go abroad," Mr Tampubolon said. "He wants to die in Indonesia."

Prosecutors also said they might confiscate items from among Mr Suharto's possessions to help with the investigation.

On Monday, plans to question Mr Suharto were put off on grounds of ill health.

An independent medical team from the Cipto Mangunkusumo state hospital (RSCM), which examined Mr Suharto before the questioning was due to begin, concluded his health had deteriorated in the past week, and that further questioning could lead to another stroke.

The doctors' decision came after prosecutors had arrived at Mr Suharto's house in central Jakarta, where they waited for three hours without asking a single question.

His lawyers have all along tried to block the corruption inquiry by arguing their client is too sick to face intense questioning.

Mr Suharto ruled Indonesia for 32 years and resigned amid mass protests in May 1998.