PRESIDENT RECEIVES FOUR FOREIGN ENVOYS' CREDENTIALS

Jakarta, Aug 12 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received the credentials of four newly accredited foreign ambassadors at the State Palace here on Wednesday.

The four ambassadors were Nole Noa Lehoko of South Africa, Manuel Innocencio de Lacerda Santos Junior of Brazil, Stefan Rozkopal of the Republic of Slovakia, and Mackenzie Clugston of Canada.

Before presenting their credentials, the four foreign envoys were each given a ceremonial welcome by a detail of the Presidential Security Guards (Paspampres) in a short ceremony.

President Yudhoyono on the occasion was accompanied by Minister/State Secretary Hatta Radjasa, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Triyono Wibowo.

Earlier, on Tuesday, National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Gen Djoko Santoso checked the Paspampres safety standards at the presidential palace.

"I have come here to check the safety standards of Paspampres and the president because they are all the TNI's responsibility," Santoso told newsmen at the presidential palace complex after the inspection on Tuesday.

Santoso said he had checked the presidential safety and security standards as part of preparations for the Independence Day commemoration ceremonies on August 17, 2009 at the presidential palace.

Meanwhile, security at President Yudhoyono's private residence in Cikeas, Bogor, has also been tightened following the discovery of a terrorist plot to kill the head of state.

Police and military personnel were on Monday seen stationed at strategic places leading to the president's private residence.

Although members of the public were still allowed to ride or walk through the road leading to the president's house, they now had to pass three checkpoints while previously there were only two checkpoints.

All private cars entering the immediate neighborhood of the president's residence must pass check points where security personnel take a close look at the cars' engines, trunks and passenger compartments.

The presidential security guards chief meanwhile said that they were ready to ensure security at the ceremonies to mark the 64th anniversary of the country's independence at the State Palace.