(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-12 10:06

Indonesia's former president Suharto has suffered multiple organ failure and is on a ventilator, doctors said, while the vice president had been summoned to his bedside to witness the 86-year-old's death.

The doctors said Suharto's brain and other organs failed as his blood pressure fell and he had trouble breathing.

Former Indonesian president Suharto (center) with his daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (right) during celebrations of his 86th birthday in Jakarta, Indonesia, in June last year. [Agencies]

"He is still in an unstable condition," said Muhammad Munawar, a member of the medical team treating the former general. "We cannot say how long" he can be kept alive.

Suharto was losing consciousness and having difficulty breathing at 17 pm (0800 GMT), according to a statement released at 8:30 pm on Friday by Pertamina hospital in Jakarta where he is being treated.

Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla had arrived at the hospital in order to be a witness at the former general's death, said a source in Kalla's office who did not want to be named. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is currently in Malaysia. Family members had earlier gathered at his bedside, witnesses said.

Suharto was taken to Pertamina hospital a week ago suffering from anaemia and low blood pressure due to heart, lung and kidney problems. His health worsened on Friday as doctors said he appeared to have a lung infection.

The former general has been critically ill for several days, receiving blood transfusions and undergoing haemodialysis to drain excess fluid from his body.

"We are closely monitoring for a possible infection because there are preliminary signs of inflammation" in Suharto's lungs, Hadiarto Mangunnegoro, a lung specialist, told a news conference earlier in the day.

"We have given him treatment to prevent that, including giving him antibiotics and anti-inflammation medicine. Hopefully it will not happen. If it does, it will make things worse."

Hutomo Mandala Putra, Suharto's youngest son, told reporters at the hospital on Friday his father's condition had not improved.