Indonesia's Suharto suffers more internal bleeding

JAKARTA, May 23 (Reuters) Former Indonesian President Suharto is suffering from another internal bleeding problem, a senior doctor said today, almost three weeks after he was admitted to a hospital for similar complaints.

The 84-year-old Suharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for 32 years, was admitted to hospital in early May due to bleeding in his digestive system, which lowered his body's oxygen level, including in his brain.

May 26, doctors conducted the last of a series of operations to halt the blood flow problems. They said Suharto's condition was satisfactory after the operation but he was still considered to be in a critical phase.

His health worsened today, the head of the presidential medical team said.

''Today, Suharto is weak because of the stomach bleeding. We will conduct an endoscopy to locate the source of that bleeding and then try to stop it,'' Mardjo Soebiandono told reporters at the Pertamina hospital in Jakarta.

Suharto has been admitted to hospital a number of times since he stepped down in 1998 when social and political chaos engulfed Indonesia. He has suffered several strokes since then and has had lung and kidney problems.

Indonesia's attorney-general said earlier in May that his office had stopped pursuing graft charges against Suharto because of his poor health. The octogenarian's illness had prevented his persecution on charges of graft.

The case has been announced as closed in the past, only to be opened again when officials in charge have changed.

Suharto sharply raised incomes in Indonesia at the expense of political freedom and endemic graft during his years in power, with critics saying he and members of his family corruptly amassed up to billion, accusations they deny.

REUTERS CH VA VV1027