(AFP) Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri left for home today at the end of a tour of nine Southeast Asian countries, officials said.

During her two-day visit here, the Indonesian president held meetings with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and with the Indonesian community.

Megawati visited nine fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during her week-long tour, her first foreign trip since taking office.

Earlier in the morning Megawati met some 350 Indonesians at the embassy and told them that the resumption of a RM19 billion (US$5 billion) loan programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) did not mean Indonesians could party.

She said the loan was not aid and had to be repaid over a period of time.

"It is not something that makes me happy (the loan). But yes we need the IMF loan but we have to accept it with full responsibility."

"We accept it with the realisation that we will not continue to be a debtor nation," she added.

Exploit potential

The president said Indonesia was rich in natural resources and people must work hard to exploit its potential.

Indonesia and the IMF yesterday signed a deal on fiscal reforms, clearing the way for resumption of the loan programme and the securing of a crucial debt restructuring agreement next month.

Megawati arrived here yesterday for a two-day visit on the last leg of a 'getting-to-know-you' tour of nine Southeast Asian nations.