Indonesia sets parliamentary elections date

Election commission chairman Abdul Hafiz Anshary said political parties have to register before May 12, and the commission will then announce the parties that qualify for the elections on July 5, the Jakarta Post reported.

 According to Home Affairs Minister Mardiyanto, more than 154.7 million of the country's 224 million population are eligible voters, 4.5 per cent more than voted in 2004 when the country held its first-ever direct presidential vote.

 Anshary said the election commission will update the data to confirm names, and expected to announce the temporary voter list in August.

 "We hope the public checks whether their names have been registered and are on the temporary voter list," Anshary was quoted as saying.

 In 2004, 24 political parties contested the elections.//dpa