DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ANNOUNCE SBY'S RUNNING MATE IN BANDUNG MONDAY

Jakarta, May 8 (ANTARA) - The Democratic Party (PD) is to announce the running mate of its presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) in Bandung, West Java, early next week, a PD executive said.

Andi Malarangeng, the PD's associate chairman for human resources, said here Friday the announcement of Yudhoyono's running mate for the upcoming July presidential election would be made in Bandung.

"God willing, it will be announced in Bandung on Monday, May 11, 2009. In 2004, Yudhoyono declared his presidential nomination in Surabaya, East Java, and this year the declaration will be made in Bandung and not necessarily in Jakarta," Malarangeng said.

He said Yudhoyono wanted to announce his running mate after the General Elections Commission (KPU) had completed counting the ballots cast in the April 9 legislative elections.

"President Yudhoyono wants to follow good political ethics. He will let the KPU announce the results of the legislative elections first before announcing his running mate on May 11," Malarangeng said.

Asked who would probably be Yudhoyono's running mate, Malarangeng refused to mention any name.