We did not do anything wrong

General Wiranto

Trials of 19 suspects, including three generals, are due to start next week in a special human rights court.

But the hearings, originally scheduled for last month, could well be delayed again because the judges have not yet been named.

General Wiranto was armed forces commander when East Timor voted to break away from Indonesia in August 1999.

The referendum result sparked a bloody rampage by the Indonesian army and Jakarta-backed militias, and the United Nations sent in international peacekeepers to end the violence.

Bias accusation

General Wiranto - who is not himself facing trial, after prosecutors said there was not enough evidence - denied his men had carried out human rights violations.

General Wiranto says he will present himself as a witness

"I know exactly what we did there. We did not do anything wrong," he said. "It is not fair to try us ... as human rights abusers."

General Wiranto said he would present himself as a witness at the tribunal, but he said the prosecution case was biased and relied on foreign sources including the United Nations and Australia.

The trials, to take place in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, are eagerly-awaited - especially by Western governments, which have made the hearings a pre-condition for the resumption of full economic and military ties with Indonesia.

But our correspondent, Simon Ingram, says many observers are questioning whether the trial will do any more than whitewash the army's conduct.

The trials are due to start next Tuesday, but this week the government said it has not yet approved a list of 30 judges nominated to hear the cases.

"Discussions are still in process," said Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda on Monday.

Last month, a United Nations tribunal in East Timor sentenced 10 members of pro-Indonesian militia to jail terms of up to 33 years for human rights atrocities.

Indonesia has not yet carried out any prosecutions.