Suharto pledges to step down

The President, speaking after meeting with several Muslim leaders, said that to safeguard the nation and the State, he would set up a committee of reform.8220;I will immediately form a committee of reform whose membership will comprise public figures and academic experts and will have the task of rapidly settling the laws on elections, parties, the legislative anti-monopoly and anti-corruption,8221; Suharto said.

Students and intellectuals have been calling for an end to a slew of laws adopted in 1985which control every aspect of political life in the country. The President warned that unless people abided by the Constitution, the nation risked falling apart and could 8220;possibly also lead to civil war.8221;