Kevin Rudd: Former president Wahid was much admired and respected not only within Indonesia

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has offered his condolences.

"Former president Wahid was much admired and respected not only within Indonesia, but also by many Australians and others throughout our region," Mr Rudd said.

"Our thoughts go in particular to his family, including his widow and four daughters."

Mr Wahid's visit to Australia in 2001, the first by an Indonesian president since 1975, set a positive tone for relations between Australia and Indonesia in the years that followed, Mr Rudd said.

Often a polarising figure, Mr Wahid's short-lived presidency collapsed as he struggled to deal with a broken economy amid allegations of incompetence and corruption.

His style was sometimes bumbling and erratic, and any hope that his penchant for jokes, formidable intellect and political skills would help lead Indonesia through the transition from authoritarian rule to democracy quickly fell flat.

While in office he did, however, strive for peace in troubled areas such as Aceh and also gave greater freedom to minority ethnic Chinese who had been suppressed under Suharto.

Despite his frail health, Mr Wahid remained an influential figure in politics and was a staunch defender of moderate Islam and secular politics. (www.abc.net.au/ABC/AAP/Photo:easttimorlegal)