President Says "Happy Idul Fitri" to Countrymen"

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has conveyed his "Happy Idul Fitri" message to all his countrymen, and expressed hope that the Idul Fitri festivities this year would make Indonesia even better in the future. "Let us greet this victorious day with a clean heart. I say Happy Idul Fitri, Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin to all my countrymen," wrote the president on his Twitter account @SBYudhoyono here on Thursday. President Yudhoyono and the members of his family also attended Idul Fitri prayer service at Istiqlal mosque at 7 on Thursday morning. Also present at the prayer service were Vice President Boediono who was accompanied by his wife Herawati Boediono, House Speaker Marzuki Alie, Regional Representative Council Chairman Irman Gusman, cabinet ministers, and foreign ambassadors. In a black coat and a red sarong, President Yudhoyono sat side by side with Vice President Boediono in the forefront, right behind the prayer leader. While the first lady, her daughters-in-law and grand-daughter Almira Tungga Dewi, were seen sitting with Madame Herawati Boediono in the mosque. Under tight security, thousands of people from all corners of the city also packed the largest mosque in Southeast Asia that can accommodate 120,000 people. The Idul Fitri prayer service at the Istiqlal mosque started at 7 am with H Hasanuddin Sinaga acted as the prayer leader before H Farid Wajdi Ibrahim delivered his Idul Fitri sermon. Writing on his Twitter account earlier on Thursday morning, President Yudhoyono conveyed his congratulatory message on the Idul Fitri festivities for all his countrymen. "Let us greet this special and victorious day with a clean heart. I wish you a Happy Idul Fitri, Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin," he wrote on his Twitter. (*)