It was the first time that Suharto, in power for 32 years until growing protest and economic crisis forced him to step down in May, has been officially probed over allegations of corruption during his rule.

"The meeting went smoothly. Suharto also responded at the meeting," attorney general Muhammad Ghalib was quoted as saying by the Kompas daily following his meeting at the former president's central Jakarta home.

A spokeswoman for Ghalib, confirming the meeting took place, said the attorney general would hold a news conference at noon (0500 gmt), but gave no other details.

Ghalib was accompanied during the meeting by coordinating minister for development and reform Hartarto Sastrosoenarto, a long-serving member of Suharto's cabinet.

The Kompas newspaper quoted an unnamedsource as saying Suharto was asked to clarify comments on television earlier this month that he had no money stashed abroad and whether there had been any wrongdoing at charitable foundations he controlled.

He was also asked to provide a letter of authority to investigate his wealth, a request the source said he had bridled at.

Last week, the justice minister said Suharto could go to jail if found guilty of corruption.

Public pressure has been mounting for president BJ Habibie to probe the Suharto clan's wealth, estimated by some analysts at up to $40 billion.

By the time of his downfall, the tentacles of Suharto's family and his close associates reached deep into the Indonesian economy and there were few businesses of any size that did not involve at least one of them.

Several analysts have expressed scepticism that the probe would yield much and noted that any result could take months or even years.

Ghalib, who is leading the investigation, earlier this month said he believed Suharto's denial ofstashing money overseas, arguing that a former president would not lie.

Several of Suharto's associates have already been questioned over possible wrongdoing, but none have been charged so far.