By Lynn Lee, Indonesia Correspondent

JAKARTA: - Former president Megawati Sukarnoputri and ex-general Prabowo Subianto are widely expected to announce their alliance for the July 8 presidential election today.

Mr Tjahjo Kumolo, a senior member of Ms Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P), told The Straits Times last night that a 'final deal' would be reached by this morning.

The pairing - which will see Ms Megawati as No. 1 and Mr Prabowo as No. 2 - was scheduled to be announced yesterday but was put on hold, apparently because the approval of Ms Megawati's husband was needed first.

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