Habibie Asks General to Be Running Mate

President B. J. Habibie on Wednesday invited Indonesia’s military chief, Gen. Wiranto, to be his vice presidential running mate in an attempt to boost his flagging chances of retaining power in next week’s election.

Habibie, a civilian who has pushed through democratic reforms despite links to Indonesia’s authoritarian past, said he needed support from the armed forces to govern the sprawling nation.

The 700-member People’s Consultative Assembly will select a head of state next Wednesday and a deputy the following day. The partly elected, partly appointed legislature includes 38 seats controlled by the military; some other seats are held by former military officers.

It was not immediately clear if Wiranto would accept Habibie’s offer.