Jakarta police clash with protesters

Police have been keeping tight control in Jakarta

About 1,000 Muslims in the Indonesian capital Jakarta have been setting fire to US and British flags on the fifth consecutive day of protests against the air strikes on Afghanistan.

Police used water cannon to control the crowd and to put out a number of small fires, including a burning effigy of US President George Bush.

Megawati, don't sell our country to the US,

Student protester placard

President Megawati Sukarnoputri broke her silence over the US strikes on Friday.

She said her government will heed calls to be more pro-active in monitoring the situation. But after meeting her in Jakarta, senior parliamentary leaders said the president failed to answer calls to clarify her government's position.

Correspondents say Mrs Megawati is under mounting pressure from Indonesian MPs and Muslim organisations opposed to the American military action, but had until now remained silent.

The parliamentary speaker, Akbar Tandjung, said the government should ask the United States to stop the bombing.

Bomb blast

Earlier, police clashed with about 100 students who were marching to the office of the American consulate general in Indonesia's second city, Surabaya.

Emotions are running high

At least four people were taken to hospital after police kicked them and beat them with sticks.

Police in the city of Makassar in South Sulawesi province said a small bomb caused minor damage to a KFC fried chicken outlet overnight.

The bomb was described as "crude" and no one was injured.

A second unexploded device was found at the offices of an Australian insurance company and taken away by police.

Our correspondent said the day's demonstrations, which got underway after Friday prayers, were much smaller than expected. Many people carried flags and banners accusing the US of being a terrorist state and calling for diplomatic relations between Jakarta and Washington to be cut.

Tight security

In Jakarta, about 5,000 armed police, soldiers and civilian guards, supported by about 40 armoured cars, were on standby near the US embassy and presidential palace.

Plans to hold a mass prayer in the National Monument Park opposite the embassy were cancelled.

If they [foreigners] refuse to leave then we will just give them a warning that anything could happen to them

FPI leader Muhammed Rizieq

The tightened security comes after a radical Muslim group said it would try to drive Americans and Britons from the country after the government ignored a deadline to cut ties with the United States over air attacks on Afghanistan.

The small but vocal Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) had given the government three days until midnight on Wednesday to condemn the US or it would start "sweeping" for Westerners.

On Thursday the group said it would ask "in a nice way" for people to leave but FPI leader Muhammed Rizieq warned if they refused "anything could happen".

He said the group would target hotels and residential areas where many expatriates live.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Mainstream Muslims, while not condoning the protests, have expressed fears of widespread civilian casualties in Afghanistan, and public opinion is unlikely to support a long conflict. The Indonesian Government has given cautious backing to the US, but has urged restraint.

In a rare comment, President Megawati Sukarnoputri on Friday said Indonesia continued to support the US war on terrorism.

"Terrorism must be eradicated," she said. "We will continue to cooperate with the international community in handling this problem."