JAKARTA - INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised stronger economic growth on Thursday a day after apparently being re-elected in a landslide on the back of pledges to fight graft and poverty.

Unofficial results gave the liberal ex-general a huge lead over opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri and outgoing Vice-President Jusuf Kalla following Wednesday's vote, despite Mdm Megawati's complaints of irregularities.

JAKARTA - INDONESIA'S election was largely free and fair, independent observers said on Thursday, as preliminary results showed the president had easily won enough votes to govern for another five years.

MANILA - PHILIPPINE troops have arrested four wives of suspected militants and accused them of aiding kidnappings by the Al-Qaeda-linked terror group Abu Sayyaf, officials said on Thursday.