Protest against Clinton visit - Malaysiakini

The protestors held placards in a demonstration against the upcoming visit by Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, who is on her first mission overseas as President Barack Obama's chief diplomat. -- PHOTO: AP

JAKARTA - MEMBERS of an Islamic group held a protest outside the US embassy in the Indonesian capital on Monday.

The protestors held placards in a demonstration against the upcoming visit by Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, who is on her first mission overseas as President Barack Obama's chief diplomat.

Mrs Clinton arrived in Japan, the first leg of the Asian tour, at 5.30pm Singapore time. She will also visiting Indonesia, South Korea, and China.

She is expected to focus on the global economic crisis and hot-button security issues including North Korea.

On Tuesday, she was due to meet Prime Minister Taro Aso, Japan's foreign and defence ministers and opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa.

Mrs Clinton will be in Jakarta for a two-day visit, from Feb 18-19. Foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said she is likely to touch on bilateral relations and the Middle East peace process.

'Talks have yet to take place, however, we're certain that will focus on efforts to enhance bilateral ties, as well as issues central to Asean, East Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle East,' he said, according to the Jakarta Post.

Mrs Clinton broke with a decades-old tradition of new US secretaries of state travelling first to Europe or the Middle East after taking office.

In a statement released shortly after her arrival in Tokyo, she said:

'I have chosen Asia on my first trip as secretary of state to convey that America's relationships across the Pacific are indispensable to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the 21st century.

'By strengthening our historic Asia alliances, starting right here in Japan, and forging new partnerships with emerging nations, we can begin together to build networks around the world to help us solve problems that none of us can solve alone.' -- JAKARTA POST, AFP