SBY SEEKING RECONCILIATION WITH MEGAWATI, KALLA

Jakarta, July 24 (ANTARA) - Presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) is seeking a reconciliation with his election rivals, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Jusuf Kalla, an executive of his Democratic Party (PD), said.

"After the final result of the presidential election is announced by the General Election Commission (KPU), our priority is to be reconciled with the Megawati and Jusuf Kalla camps. Competition during the election was really strong but after that we need to reunite to build our nation," head of the Democratic Party's human resources development department, Andi Malarangeng, said here on Friday.

The KPU on Wednesday completed the ballots recapitulation from 33 provinces and said the Yudhoyono-Boediono pair had a landslide victory by garnering 73,874,562 votes or 60.80 percent of the total ballots.

According to KPU, the Megawati Soekarnoputri-Prabowo Subianto pair grabbed 32,548,105 votes or 26.79 percent while the Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto duo trailed behind with 15,081,814 votes or 12.41 percent of the total ballots.

Malarangeng said a reconciliation among the election contestants was needed to overcome the various differences and problems that had arisen during the election, and to reunite for the sake of national development over the next five years.

"All contestants have after all signed an agreement to be ready either to win or lose in the election, and therefore, after the final election results are announced, they should become one again," Malarangeng said.

Commenting on various issues protested by Megawati and Jusuf Kalla, Malarangeng asked the two presidential candidates camps to channel their complaints through the right corridor, namely the Constitutional Court.

"Just follow the right procedure. Otherwise it will foil the election," Malarangeng said.

Asked if Yudhoyono would take an initiative to meet with his two rivals after the final ballot counting, Malarangeng said it was possible but mainly depended on Megawati and Jusuf Kalla.

"Yudhoyono is always ready to unite and