President Hopes Election Results Will be Honored

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed hope that competing candidates and their supporters will accept and honor the results of the election on July 9. "I hope the rival pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates, their success teams, and supporters will honor the result of the election later," he said at a press conference after meeting with heads of high state institutions here on Monday. To mass media, he meanwhile appealed to be polite and not provocative in their reporting. He said the press should become part of the solution by reporting stories that help the situation remain conducive to support the process of democratization and in view of smooth and peaceful elections before. President Yudhoyono admitted that the competition this time was very tight, and in view of that he hoped the press will not report false stories that could create tension and confusion, and stir the emotion of the public. (*) Reported by Muhammad Razi Rahman