The Indonesian navy withdrew five of its seven warships from the disputed water territory with Malaysia in Indonesia's Sulawesi sea, Indonesian Naval Commander for Eastern Indonesia Real Admiral Sosialisman said Tuesday.

"The reason we left only two warships is because Malaysia also left two," the commander was quoted as saying by the state news agency Antara.

Meanwhile, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived in Sebatik island near the territory to pay an inspection visit there.

Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to reduce tension in the disputed area and to bring the problem to the negotiating table.

Foreign ministers of the two countries, who are scheduled to meet to find solution to the dispute, will also discuss the problem on the sidelines of the ASEAN-European Union meeting on March 9-10 in Jakarta.

Indonesia sent four jet fighters to the area after Malaysia claimed ownership of the territory.

Xinhua