Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono plans to visit the US and some countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and Palestine between Sept. 11 and 23, foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda said in Jakarta on August 24.

The purpose of his tour was, among other things, to attend the 2005 World Summit at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Sept. 14-16, the minister said after a meeting with the president, Antara news agency reported.

Hassan said Susilo would deliver a speech at the UN meeting on Sept. 16, which would be attended by heads of state and government from UN member countries.

Regarding the visits to Saudi Arabia and Palestine, Hassan said Susilo would be the first Indonesian president to visit Palestine since the country's independence 60 years ago.

He said the visit would be proof of the country's consistency in supporting Palestine's independence and efforts to live on an equal footing with other nations.

Source: Xinhua