Barack Obama in Indonesia

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LONDON: Russia's Yuliya Zaripova celebrates after winning the women's 3000m steeplechase final at the athletics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games here Tuesday. — AFP Photo

US President Barack Obama has arrived in Jakarta for a brief visit to Indonesia, set to focus on trade and support for democratic progress, report agencies.
He is also expected to use the visit to reach out to the Muslim world, with a visit to South East Asia's largest mosque -- the Istiqlal.
President Barack Obama met his Indonesian counterpart Tuesday for talks to boost security and trade ties, in a visit aimed at using the most populous Muslim nation to reach out to the wider Islamic world.
The trip to Indonesia, seen by Obama as an important destination for a variety of strategic and personal reasons, has been twice postponed and the White House said this 20-hour stay could be cut short because of atmospheric ash belched by eruptions from Mount Merapi volcano, 600 kms (375 miles) away.
Indonesia's importance as a US ally is on the rise, even if the joy over Obama's election has faded since he became president almost two years ago. His talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono are not seen yielding major announcements but are more to warm the stage for investment links and cooperation.
Southeast Asia's biggest economy and a G20 member, Indonesia proved resilient to the financial crisis and has become a hot destination for emerging market investors looking to tap strong consumer demand, abundant resources and political stability.
"We see in Indonesia the intersection of a lot of key American interests, and we see this as a partnership that is very important to the future of American interests in Asia and the world," said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security advisor for strategic communications.
Obama's return to a country where he spent four years of his childhood comes after two previously scheduled trips were put off -- in March as he fought to pass his healthcare overhaul law and in June as he faced the cleanup of the massive BP oil spill.
The dozens of cars in Obama's convoy splashed quickly through the quiet streets of the usually gridlocked capital, after a tropical downpour that forced his welcome ceremony indoors.