Yudhoyono Slams WikiLeaks Graft Charges

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is describing as character assassination leaked U.S. diplomatic cables reportedly accusing him of bribery, intimidation and self-enrichment.

Yudhoyono was responding Monday to recent reports by Australian newspapers The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age based on U.S. diplomatic cables and obtained by WikiLeaks.

He told a Cabinet meeting in the West Java town of Bogor that he would use his right to obtain justice through democratic means. He did not elaborate.

U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel last week expressed regret that the cables from the embassy in Jakarta found their way to the public but did not comment on their contents.