JAKARTA, Aug 2: The United States on Friday pledged more than 50 million dollars to help Indonesia combat terrorism in an effort to boost its war on extremist violence in Southeast Asia.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell also said Washington was prepared to expand military cooperation with Jakarta, nearly three years after most military ties were broken off over East Timor.

The sum includes four million dollars in counter-terrorism training for military officials. But Powell warned that a restoration of full military ties depends on the armed forces improving its human rights record.

A US statement announcing the fundings said Indonesia, and Jakarta in particular, had suffered from a string of terror bombings over the past two years.

“The United States and Indonesia are committed to assisting each other in this fight. We will be undertaking a long-term security and counter-terrorism program with Indonesia valued at a little over 50 million dollars,” it said.

Powell said the funding would be paid out over “a several year period”, with 47 million dollars going to the national police.

The police are not affected by congressional restrictions on US assistance which bars military funding over human rights concerns.

Powell announced the funds after meeting President Megawati Sukarnoputri and the foreign minister.—AFP