CAPE TOWN, November 21: President Nelson Mandela on Thursday offered to help solve Indonesia's internal troubles, while Indonesian President Suharto said his country respects others who mind their own business.

Mandela said he represented the United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan in``sensitive'' talks with Suharto at the outset of a state visit marred by protests over Indonesia's political hold over East Timor.

Mandela met Suharto privately for nearly an hour in his Tuynhuis state offices here shortly after the Indonesian leader was given a red-carpet greeting.

``We are discussing very sensitive matters which affect the lives of many people,'' he told journalists later. He declined to elaborate, saying only that the talks were ``fruitful'', and ``there is still a lot that can be achieved through continued dialogue''.

``It will not be proper to discuss anything where I am acting on behalf of the United Nations,'' Mandela said. He was apparently referring to ongoing UN efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to tensions in Indonesia's annexed territory of East Timor.

Mandela said he was ``not acting independently'' and was in ``constant consultation'' with Annan, whom he spoke to twice on the phone in the past three days, including a discussion on Wednesday afternoon. Later at a banquet in Suharto's honour, Mandela said South Africa was willing to help Indonesia solve its problems. "I wish once more to underline the willingness of our country and myself personally to lend a helping hand where such may be required," Mandela said in a prepared speech. He added that South African efforts would be "within the context of multi-lateral institutions."

For his part, Suharto emphasised that countries should "respect each others' sovereignty" and not interfere in others' internal matters.

Suharto said in a speech that "Indonesia adheres faithfully to principles of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect of each other's sovereignty, non-interference in the internal affairs of others."

Shortly before Suharto's arrival, police arrested around 50 labour union protestors waving placards and chanting their opposition to the Indonesian leader outside Parliament's main gates.

The protestors are members of the 1.5-million member Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU), which is opposed to Suharto's visit because of the Indonesian government's repression of human rights in East Timor.

Police said the demonstrators were arrested because they were contravening law prohibiting pickets within 100 metres of Parliament and court buildings. South African government officials, meanwhile, were perplexed and somewhat embarrassed over the arrests, official sources said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.