Today's Story Line

It's been a tumultuous year for the president of the world's third-largest democracy. This week, Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid faces his first annual performance review - a public assessment by legislators. It's not going to be pretty. But Mr. Wahid is expected to hold on to his job. Perhaps more significant in the long run will be how power is distributed between the branches of government in the young democracy (page 1).

Quote of note: "Wahid's true legacy could end up being a complete reinvention of the relationship between the executive and parliament," - a diplomat.

Women in Arab nations are still developing a relationship with the political power structures - with varying degrees of success. Part 2 of the series on Arab women includes a look at the suffrage movement in Kuwait and profiles of two Lebanese professionals.

David Clark Scott World editor

REPORTERS ON THE JOB..

*LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Shortly after taking office last year, Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid ordered his aides to find a house for him in a quiet neighborhood not far from the presidential office, where he could hold sensitive meetings away from the prying eyes of the presidential press corps. The house for secret meetings was duly found and is being used almost every day of the week. The only problem: it's directly across the street from the home of two journalists - namely Dan Murphy and a colleague from London's Financial Times. "If I ever need to find out who's been meeting Wahid, I just ask the guy who sells cigarettes in front of my house," Dan says.

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