U.S. talks a test for Megawati

President Megawati will have to perform a diplomatic balancing act in the U.S.

By CNN's Yenni Kwok

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- In a major test of her political skills, Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. President George W Bush.

What began as a trip to shore-up U.S. support for Indonesia's democratic and economic reforms has turned into a diplomatic tight-rope walk for the leader of the world's most populous Muslim country.

Wednesday's talks will be President Bush's first meeting with a Muslim leader since last week's terror attacks in the U.S.

The U.S. administration will be eager to publicly engage the support of a large, and moderate Muslim country such as Indonesia for its anti-terrorist campaign.

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Megawati has already strongly condemned what she called the "brutal and indiscriminate" assaults and said Indonesia would join the global battle against terrorism.

But any support for U.S. military retaliation must be tempered by domestic political considerations.

Already senior Indonesian political figures have publicly advised Megawati to exercise caution when commenting on Indonesia's support for U.S. retaliation.

Indonesian News magazine Kompas reports Parliament Chairman Akbar Tandjung saying Megawati should not get carried away by the atmosphere of mourning in the U.S.

"An attack on Afghanistan by the U.S. will have wide implications to other countries. For this reason, Madam Megawati should be careful and put a restraint on statements," he is reported saying.

Vice President Hamzah Haz also warned the U.S. earlier this week not to make Islam a scapegoat for the terror attacks.

And hard-line Muslim groups have warned Megawati that they would stage massive protests if she becomes "a tool of the U.S. Government".

"If the United States attack a Muslim country while she is there, people can interpret that she gives some kind of moral support to their attack," said Al-Habib Rizieg Syihad, chairman of the Front of the Defenders of Islam (FPI).

In recent years, Megawati, who leads a nationalist party, has faced challenges from several Islamic parties and groups, some of whom refused to support her candidacy for president because she is a woman.

Megawati will also meet with energy officials in the U.S. before travelling on to Japan -- a major investor in Indonesia --as part of her 12-day trip.