Incumbent Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, July 5, 2004.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is "confident" of winning the election ,July 6, 2004.(Xinhua Photo)

   JAKARTA, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Indonesian presidential hopeful Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his readiness to enter the runoff election in September and his gratitude to the people on Tuesday over his top position on the initial vote calculation of the direct presidential election.

   Susilo made the statement during his brief visit to the center of vote tabulation of the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU) at Borobudur Hotel in central Jakarta.

   "I gratitude to the people, but it is just the beginning of the vote calculation, it is still continuing," Susilo told reporters at the center.

   During the visit, the presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party  called to respect the process of the election until it is complete.

   "It is better we respect this process until it is complete and there is an announcement from the KPU about the final result for us, especially for me," he said.

   When asked about his strategy if elected to enter the run-off, he urged to hold a fair and democratic competition.

   "It is better for me to say that we would like to compete as fair as possible, as democratic as possible, and as tight as possible," he added.

   As he was optimistic to go to the second round, Susilo said: "I am ready to go to the second round, whoever will be my competitor,either Wiranto or Megawati, they have his or her strength and weaknesses."

   Megawati, the incumbent president and also presidential candidate of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI-P) and Wiranto, the presidential candidate of the Golkar Party have been considered the strongest contestants along with Susilo in the five pairs of the presidential and vice presidential hopefuls.  

   Susilo became popular in the country in the last three years, after he was appointed to lead the coordinating ministry for politics and security, in charge of handling the domestic security and conflict. His resignation from Megawati's cabinet in March this year, shortly before the legislative election was kicked off,caused a surge of people's sympathy for him.  Enditem