Thousands Line Up To Greet President

Jakarta - Thousands of people lined up at the State Palace on Sunday to greet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono who hosted an Idul Fitri open house for well wishers.

The open house only began at 2 p.m. but many of the well wishers had arrived at 8 a.m., and waited for the gate opened for them at the parking lot, Antara state news agency reported.

Each of the guests had to go through a thermo scanner, which has been in place at the palace since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic of swine flu earlier this year.

The well wishers greeted the president and his wife and shook hands with them in group of 10 people.

Like last year, dozens of blind people were given access to the palace for Idul Fitri celebration.

But unlike last year, the president`s two sons missed the open house. Yudhoyono`s eldest son Agus Harimurti is pursuing his study at Harvard University in the US, while second son Eddhie Baskoro, according to his mother Ani, is conducting a special assignment from his father.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com
Photo: http://prayitnoramelan.kompasiana.com

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