Unrest feared ahead of Wahid speech

Police say clashes are expected between rival groups

Indonesian authorities say 9,000 policemen have been put on alert ahead of a key speech to parliament by President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Mr Wahid is expected finally to respond to parliament's censure of him over his alleged role in two financial scandals involving a donation by the Sultan of Brunei and embezzlement from a state agency.

Wahid: Called for understanding and humility

Parliament will debate his response on Friday, and if it is not satisfied, could pass a second censure motion, which could in turn pave the way for Mr Wahid's impeachment.

In a conciliatory speech on Tuesday, Mr Wahid offered to negotiate a new balance of power with parliament.

Speaking to a judges' convention, he said the constitution gave the head of state too much power.

Understanding and humility

But Mr Wahid said he was drafting constitutional changes to prevent the kind of abuses carried out by his predecessors in decades of authoritarian rule.

He is at our mercy

Wahid opponent

Until then, he said, both president and parliament should show understanding and humility towards each other.

But analysts said that his speech to the parliament was likely to be rejected as MPs had lost faith in his ability to govern the country.

"He is at our mercy," opponent Alvin Lie said.

Clashes anticipated

In recent weeks the president's supporters and critics have staged near-daily rival demonstrations in Jakarta.

On Tuesday, 1,500 of Mr Wahid's supporters rallied in Jakarta calling for the death of the speakers of both houses of parliament.

Police commissioner Anton Bahrul Alam told the media that police were anticipating clashes between the rival groups on Wednesday.