Members of Indonesia's ethnic Chinese community, who were targetted during the serious rioting and looting last month, have announced plans to set up their own political parties.

Organisers of the Indonesian Chinese Reform Party intend to put up candidates in general elections which President Habibe has said will be held next year.

A spokesman said they wanted to dispel the notion that their community was only interested in the economy; they wanted to show they cared about what happened in society.

The move follows a similar announcement yesterday by a group called the Ethnic Chinese Assimilation Party.