Indonesia is seeking a rescheduling of payments falling due on its estimated $54 billion sovereign debt as part of a bailout package worked out with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) two months ago.

Russia meanwhile is due to explain to its creditors why it has fallen behind on repayments of debt inherited from the former Soviet Union. No detailed negotiations are expected in Russia's case.

Paris Club sources said creditor nations would discuss Indonesia's request for a rescheduling of debt repayments on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With the benefit of an IMF-approved bailout behind it, Indonesia's negotiations are expected to go relatively smoothly.

Under discussion will be a rescheduling only of repayments due over a relatively short period of time -- somewherearound six months to two years.

Earlier this month, IMF director for Asia-Pacific Nubert Neiss said that he was optimistic about a Paris Club deal.

"There are many, many details to be settled. I think with goodwill and flexibility on both sides, it is possible and feasible that the whole agreement can be reached in one meeting," he told Reuters Television.

Indonesia called in the IMF to agree an economic stabilisation programme after being hit by its worst economic crisis in three decades. It was due to be represented at the Paris Club talks by finance minister Bambang Subianto.

In contrast to the detailed discussions with Indonesia, the Paris Club talks with Russia were expected to be purely an exchange of information rather than a negotiation.

Russian deputy finance minister Mikhail Kasyanov told Reuters last week that Moscow was not going to ask the Club for any restructuring nor propose other measures.

"Now we only need to give all information," he said.

Russia told the Paris Club earlierthis month there were delays in its repayments to some of its members.

Germany, by far Moscow's biggest creditor, said earlier this month that Russia missed virtually all of an 800 million mark ($476 million) interest payment due on August 20 on sovereign debts inherited from the former Soviet union.

Germany appears however to have been the worst affected by the delay in repayments and French finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn said last week that the total amount of non-payments was "not significant".

The Paris Club agreed a major rescheduling of debt inherited from the former Soviet Union in 1995 and Russia has since joined the western creditors grouping as a member.

The Paris Club is an informal gathering of creditor nations, dominated by the Group of Seven rich nations and chaired by the French Treasury. Its main purpose is to ensure all creditors get treated equally in any debt rescheduling.