Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri late Friday signed a regulation to delay voting in districts where ballot papers and other supplies have not arrived in time for Monday's general elections.

The voting is expected to take place on schedule throughout most of the vast archipelago.

But top security minister Hari Sabarno told reporters the distribution of electoral material was still a concern in the three easternmost provinces of Papua, West Irian Jaya, and East Nusa Tenggara.

He said the new regulation simply provided a legal umbrella in case a delay was needed.

"Whether or not the legal umbrella is used depends greatly on the situation," Sabarno said.

Newspapers quoted Ferry Kareth, head of the Papua General Elections Commission, as saying he had asked to delay the vote in about half the districts in the province which is home to many isolated tribespeople.