In a nationally televised speech three days before Indonesia's fourth President is to be elected by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Habibie answered wide spread criticism of his troubled 17 months in office."With all humility, I appeal for forgiveness for all shortcomings and for my inability to reach perfection," said Habibie, who took over in May 1998 after bloody riots and an economic crisis ended the 32-year rule of his political mentor, Suharto . "I'm not an extraordinary human being descended from the heaven to turn hopes into realities," Habibie, 63, said in a follow-up to a performance report he delivered to the Assembly on Thursday.

The 700-member MPR will choose among Habibie and two other declared presidential candidates, Opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri andmoderate Muslim leader Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, on Wednesday.

Habibie defended his much-criticised policy regarding the troubled territory of East Timor, which voted for independence in August and was rocked by violence. He said parliament was consulted on the East Timor question and other "strategic decisions."

He reiterated there was not enough evidence to bring former President Suharto to court over alleged corruption through charity foundations, but said the inquiry could be reopened if new evidence emerged.