(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-09 20:21

JAKARTA -- Hundreds of people will gather on Wednesday evening to pray for the recovery of the former Indonesian president Soeharto, who is in critical condition in the hospital, said a press official for the vice president.

Among the prayers would be the country's Vice President Jusuf Kalla, top officials and leaders from the biggest party of Golkar,said Muchlim Hasyim.

The official said the pray would be conducted at the vice president's residence in the capital of Jakarta.

"One of the purpose of the pray is to beg a recovery for Soeharto," he said.

Besides, he said the pray was also aimed at welcoming the Islamic New Year.

The official said that at least 120 top officials and party leaders were already invited to the pray..

The 86-year-old former strongman Soeharto has been in critical condition since Monday and being treated intensively in a hospital in Jakarta.

His illness has sparked controversial whether the former general should be pardoned for his civil case allegation or persistently tried.

Soeharto had ruled Indonesia for 32 years before he was toppled on May 21, 1998.

He faced numerous allegation of human rights violation and corruption during his rules, but in May 2006 prosecutors closed a criminal case against him due to his deteriorating health.

Soeharto has been frequently treated in the hospital in recent years for a stroke and intestinal bleeding, which make him could not be tried.