Merak, Banten (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived at the port of Merak, Banten, Saturday evening on his way to Lampung, Sumatra, to witness a marine exercise at Teluk Ratai on Sunday.

From Merak the President will travel aboard naval warship KRI Surabaya-591 to Teluk Ratai during which he would hold a meeting with a number of cabinet ministers to discuss defense system equipment.

He is expected to arrive at Teluk Ratai at 6.55 and open the exercise with the order "land the landing force."

From the waters the head of state will leave for Caligi beach in the subdistrict of Padang Cermin, by armored vehicle LVT-7.

At the beach President Yudhoyono would watch the landing of a marine unit and a combat demonstration in the form of firings of three PT-76s, two BVP-2s, two Howitzer 105s and two RM 70 Grad rockets.

The President would also watch the second demonstration in the form of firing from above a tree, reaction firing and firing of mortar 81s amd river crossing.

The President, who would not be accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono this time, would also watch the shooting of a Dopper.

After the demonstrations, the head of state would proceed to the Black Bear Infantry-9 Batallion headquarters to receive a salute and visit a Bio-Marine product exhibition and plant trees.

Afterwards the President and entourage would leave for Klara beach to attend a social charity event and watch a Rubber Duck Operation demonstration. After that President Yudhoyono would return to Jakarta by plane.

Joining him would be several cabinet ministers and military brass such as defense minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, defense forces commander General Djoko Santoso, navy chief of staff vice admiral Agus Suhartono, airforce chief of staff vice marshal Imam Sufaat and army chief of staff lieutenant general George Toisutta.

Others included coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs Djoko Suyanto, coordinating minister for the eocnomy Hatta Radjasa, minister/state secretary Sudi Silalahi, forestry minister Zulkifli Hassan, fishery and marine resource minister Fadel Muhammad, environment state minister Muhammad Hatta, and vice minister of defense Sjafrie Sjamsudin and vice minister of transportation Bambang Susantono.(*)