Wahid faces impeachment

Wahid's supporters broke down the parliament gates

Indonesia's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to begin impeachment proceedings against President Abdurrahman Wahid.

What next

Special session of MPR in two months

MPR made up of MPs and 200 others

Has authority to appoint and dismiss presidents

Wahid to present account of administration

If MPR votes to reject it he has to step down

Megawati takes over for the remainder of his five-year term

The motion was approved by 365-4 in the 500 member house and means that a special session of the country's top legislative body will now be convened.

Security forces, backed by armoured vehicles and water cannon, earlier broke up a violent pro-Wahid demonstration at the parliament compound in Jakarta.

Mr Wahid, who has been accused of corruption and incompetence, has again denied any wrongdoing, and says he has no plans to resign.

Censure

Before the vote, Mr Wahid's own party and a smaller Christian group walked out of parliament, while a faction representing the military abstained.

But all the major parties voted to censure Wahid - the third vote of no confidence against the president - and convene the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which is made up of parliament plus 200 other members.

Wahid has threatened to impose a state of emergency

The MPR has the authority to appoint and dismiss presidents.

South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says that as MPs make up most of the MPR, Mr Wahid's fate is sealed unless he can somehow patch together a deal with his opponents.

Earlier, thousands of angry Wahid supporters stormed the gates of the parliament compound, but were prevented from reaching the main building.

After some skirmishes, in which tear gas was fired, the crowd calmed down when some delegates were allowed into the building to meet MPs.

All the major political parties accused Mr Wahid of breaking the constitution over alleged corruption.

In a letter read out at the parliament session, Mr Wahid strongly denied the allegations of corruption and incompetence made against him.

Violence

In East Java, one man was shot dead and five others were wounded in clashes with security forces in the town of Pasuruan, hospital officials said.

Violence erupted in Pasuruan, East Java

Police and soldiers fired the shots after pro-Wahid protesters threw home-made stun bombs towards the police line in the town, 750 km (450 miles) east of Jakarta.

Buildings belonging to opposition organisations were also attacked and churches set on fire in East Java.

There were also large pro-Wahid demonstrations in Situbondo, east of Pasuruan.

Megawati's role

Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri would automatically take over from Mr Wahid if he was voted out of office.

A majority of MPs want Megawati to become president

Under the constitution, there should be a two-month delay before the special session of the upper house is held.

But it is possible the whole process will be speeded up to avoid prolonging the uncertainty which is paralysing the country.

The president tried to win over Ms Megawati with a last-minute offer of a power-sharing deal, but she apparently rejected it.

Mr Wahid has threatened to declare a state of emergency so he can dissolve parliament. But senior government ministers, as well as the security forces, have refused to support such a move.