Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said nobody should force him to take measures beyond his authority in the legal cases of the two suspended anti-graft body officials.

The legal cases of Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto, suspended deputy chiefs of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), must be dealt with in the shortest possible time but within a clear legal corridor, the president said when chairing a limited cabinet meeting at his office here on Wednesday.

"I, as president, should not be pushed or forced to take steps outside my authority. Otherwise, I would violate the laws, act against the laws. Indeed (the cases) should not drag on for too long, but let me remind everybody that they must be solved through a legally clear corridor," the president said at the cabinet meeting discussing the recommendations of the Team of Eight charged with verifying the legal processes in the controversial cases of the two suspended KPK officials.

Steps taken by the government as well as the president must be based on the Constitution, the laws and existing regulations, he said.

Therefore, the government should respond to the Bibit-Chandra cases "carefully, appropriately and quickly," he said.

"We have to choose the best option and it should be done in clear terms. We must prioritize the national interest above other interests," he said.

He said he would not decide whether to accept or reject the recommendations at the meeting.

"After we have studies them (recommendations) thoroughly, I will officially present them to the police chief and the attorney general, and I will give them certain time to respond and to take the next appropriate steps," he said.

After the cabinet meeting, the president said he would on Wednesday evening present his views on how the police and attorney general should respond (to the team`s recommendations). On Thursday, he would give relevant guidelines to the police chief and attorney general.(*)

Editor: Heru
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