LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- The attorney general's office said Tuesday that it is examining a Portuguese lawmaker's

request to seek the extradition of former Indonesian President Suharto.

The lawmaker, Nuno Correia da Silva, argued in a letter that Suharto should be extradited for alleged human rights

abuses committed in East Timor -- a former Portuguese territory that Indonesia invaded in late 1975 and annexed

weeks later.

``We're looking at whether it's possible in Portuguese law,'' said Sara Pina, a spokeswoman for the attorney general.

Human rights groups have accused Indonesian troops of widespread abuses in East Timor, 1,200 miles east of

Jakarta.

Correia da Silva argued that his bid to see Suharto extradited was strengthened by current attempts to extradite former

Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet to Spain on charges that include genocide.

Pinochet is in London awaiting a House of Lords panel decision on whether to extradite him. The English High Court

quashed the original arrest warrant against Pinochet on the grounds that he is immune from prosecution as a former

chief of state.

Correia da Silva, of Portugal's rightist Popular Party, said his case to extradite Suharto could be strengthened because

the United Nations still regards Portugal as the legitimate administrative power in East Timor.

Suharto resigned from his post as Indonesia's president in May, after 32 years in power.

AP-NY-11-17-98 1305EST