JOINT ANTI-TERROR EXERCISE NOT LINKED TO OBAMA'S VISIT

Jakarta, March 11 (ANTARA) - Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces General Djoko Santoso said a joint anti-terror exercise by TNI and the National Police which began on Thursday had nothing to do with US President Barack Obama's upcoming visit.

"One of the backgrounds for carrying out this routine activity is the terror attacks in Bombay (Mumbai, India) some time ago," General Djoko Santoso said here on Thursday after officially opening the joint exercise.

TNI and the Police are conducting the joint exercise against terrorists in Jakarta and surrounding areas, from March 11 to 13, 2010. President Obama is expected to visit Indonesia from March 20 to 23.

The Mumbai terror attacks at around 11 spots began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until November 29, killing at least 173 people and wounding at least 308.

"Therefore, we conduct this exercise routinely annually, so we are ready if there is such an attack," he said.

The joint exercise is the second after the first one in 2008, and the routine activity had nothing to do with the planned visit of President Obama, according to the general.

The US government has sent an advance team to check all technical and administrative preparations prior to Obama's arrival in Indonesia.

Barack Obama is scheduled to hold a bilateral talk with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss efforts to intensify the two countries' bilateral ties.

Obama, who had spent several years of his childhood in Jakarta, is also expected to make nostalgic visits to a few places in the Indonesian capital and Bali with his wife and two daughters.

Earlier, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo had said that the capital city was ready to receive US President Barack Obama scheduled to visit from March 20 to 22.

"We have not received the details of his agenda which is still with the National Police. However, security measures have started to be taken. Anyway, Jakarta often receives state guests and we have the standard operating procedure which is going to be applied (for Obama's visit)," Governor Bowo said here on Wednesday.

Senior Commissioner Irlan, the Jakarta Police's intelligence and security director, said Jakarta's security conditions remained under control and conducive to receive Obama.