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Top officials visit Suharto as his health deteriorates

The health of former Indonesian dictator Suharto deteriorated yesterday, with signs of internal bleeding, fluid building up in his lungs and heart complications, doctors said.

Suharto, 86, whose regime was widely regarded as one of most corrupt and brutal of the 20th century, was suffering from anemia, a dangerously low heart rate and swollen internal organs when he was admitted to Pertamina Hospital in critical condition on Friday.

"We are looking for the cause of the bleeding," said Subiandono, the chief presidential doctor.

Excess liquid in the former strongman's lungs could lead to respiratory problems and there has also been a drop in his red cell blood count, he said.

Suharto, who was ousted amid massive student protests and nationwide riots at the height of the 1997 to 1998 Asian financial crisis, has been accused of overseeing a purge of more than a half million left-wing opponents soon after seizing power in a 1965 coup.

Hundreds of thousands more were killed or imprisoned in the decades that followed -- crimes for which no one has ever been punished.

Suharto has received a steady stream of visits by high-profile officials in recent days, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Cabinet ministers and Muslim clerics, a sign of his continuing influence over the ruling elite.

"For the time being, he can receive no more visitors," Subiandono said. "He will need to remain in intensive care."
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