Wednesday, May 10 2006 15:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jakarta: The president of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, backed Iran's claim today(May 10, 2006) that its nuclear programme was peaceful while his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad again defended the Islamic regime's right to pursue its nuclear ambitions.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he believed diplomacy could resolve the international stand-off over Iran's ambitions and that Ahmadinejad appeared willing to negotiate.

"Indonesia believes that Iran's nuclear programme is peaceful and all problems related to the Iranian nuclear programme can be solved in a good manner and diplomatically by involving many parties in the international community," Yudhoyono told a press briefing after meeting Ahmadinejad.

Indonesia has said in the past that it supports efforts by signatories of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to pursue peaceful nuclear technology.

"Indonesia expressed concern about the ongoing tensionover Iran's nuclear programme," Yudhoyono said.

"We hope that open conflict can be avoided. I also believe that Iran can continue talks and negotiation. All parties must use the opportunity to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution," he said.

Ahmadinejad arrived in Indonesia today for a five-day visit amid a flurry of international diplomacy aimed at halting his country's nuclear programme.

Yudhoyono's support comes two days after the firebrand Iranian leader sent a letter in English to US President George W Bush, proposing a return to religious principles as a means of restoring confidence.