Wahid rejects parliament censure

Thousands more police have been deployed across the capital city

Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has rejected a parliamentary censure over two financial scandals, reiterating his claim that the accusations against him were "baseless".

I don't accept the memorandum - this answer is important to maintain dignity over these baseless accusations

President Wahid

Mr Wahid addressed parliament briefly himself before allowing his newly appointed justice minister read out a 16-page reply to the censure.

The address could be the embattled president's last chance to ward off the possibility of impeachment, although analysts say there is little likelihood of him succeeding.

"I don't accept the memorandum [of censure]," the nearly blind Mr Wahid said. "For me, this answer is important to maintain dignity over these baseless accusations,"

Wahid claims that the allegations are baseless

Mr Wahid added that a parliamentary committee which probed into his affairs was "illegitimate", a comment correspondents said was sure to inflame MPs.

Parliament rebuked Mr Wahid last month for acting improperly over the two financial scandals worth a total of $6.1m.

If Mr Wahid fails to sway parliament, deputies could pass a second censure motion at another debate on Friday, which would pave the way for Mr Wahid's impeachment, an outcome that would plunge the nation into more instability.

Street clashes

Security was extremely tight at the parliament with a two-metre high interlocked plastic fence and rolls of razor wire set up to prevent protestors from storming into the compound as hundreds of police stood guard.

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

But there was no sign of the thousands of pro-Wahid demonstrators who were rumoured to be planning to rally at the parliament to air their support for the president.

The authorities have mobilised more than 9,000 police across the capital.

The scandals involve a donation of two million dollars by the Sultan of Brunei, which is unaccounted for, and the embezzlement of $3.5m from the state food agency Bulog by Mr Wahid's former masseur.

Abuse of power

Mr Wahid has offered to negotiate a new balance of power with parliament.

Speaking to a judges' convention on Tuesday, he said the constitution gave the head of state too much power, which encouraged the kind of abuses carried out by his predecessors in decades of authoritarian rule.

But until the constitutional changes can take place, he told the judges, both president and parliament should show understanding and humility towards each other.

Analysts say most MPs have lost faith in Mr Wahid's ability to govern the country.