SBY Skips Idul Fitri Prayers

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono did not attend the opening of the national Idul Fitri eve prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque here on Tuesday evening.

"Earlier a banner was put up there informing that the President would come but yesterday it was taken down," a staff at the mosque said. He said the prayers locally known as "Takbir Akbar" would be opened by Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali.

Last year President Yudhoyono marked the opening of the prayers by beating a drum after evening prayers. President Yudhoyono meanwhile is scheduled to perform Idul Fitri prayers at the mosque on Wednesday morning, which would also be attended by the vice president and cabinet ministers.