Indonesia security czar quits Cabinet

JAKARTA, March 12 (UPI) -- Indonesian security czar Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono quit his Cabinet post Thursday after falling out with President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

His resignation is seen as the clearest signal yet that he is gunning for the presidency.

Speculation had been rife over the past week that the 53-year-old retired general would quit, after signs of a growing rift with Megawati. The Straits Times reported the row between the two emerged after he snubbed her request for him to run as her deputy.

Surveys show he is rising in popularity, just behind Megawati in public support. But analysts believe that his chances for the top job are slim as he lacks a huge party base like the PDI-P or Golkar.