JAKARTA, 07 May 2006 - Former Indonesian president Suharto is undergoing colon surgery to stop bleeding in his digestive tract, according to one of his doctors. The surgery began Sunday at 9:00 p.m. (1400GMT) and was expected to last around three hours until midnight (1700 GMT).

"Doctors carried out a colonoscopy this afternoon and identified the sources of the bleeding on the left side of the colon. The bleeding is continuing," The Associated Press quoted Dr. Joko Raharjo as saying.

The medical team had "decided there has to be an operation, or surgery, as soon as possible to stop the bleeding, despite the risks due to his age, several illnesses, several stokes, and damage to the heart, lungs and kidneys," he said.

Suharto, 84, was admitted to Pertamina Hospital in south Jakarta on Thursday evening because of the bleeding. He has been receiving blood transfusions. He was president of Indonesia from 1967 until his resignation, under immense political pressure, in 1998.

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