Explosions shake Indonesian capital

Two people lost legs in the explosion

Explosions have gone off in or near two churches in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, as people were attending Sunday morning services.

There was a loud explosion - people ran out in panic

Father Suryanto
Parish priest

More than 40 people are reported injured. Two are said to have lost limbs, and some were crushed when a church roof fell on top of them.

One eyewitness said that shortly before one blast he saw a man carrying a bag approach a vehicle parked outside a church, and then hurry away.

Police said there was a direct link between the explosions and the political crisis in the country, following President Abdurrahman Wahid's renewed threat to impose a state of emergency.

He has been summoned to appear before the upper house of parliament on Monday, for an impeachment hearing which could result in his removal as head of state.

Mr Wahid has declared that he will not appear before the assembly and has made veiled threats that his supporters will take matters into their own hands to prevent him being deposed.

Falling roof

The first explosion went off inside the Santa Ana Catholic church, in the east of the city, shortly after 0700 (0000GMT), as about 700 people were attending mass.

Police say the blasts were caused by high explosives

Part of the ceiling fell in, and windows were shattered.

"There was a loud explosion. People ran out in panic. There were clouds of thick smoke and things fell down from the roof," said the parish priest, Father Suryanto.

Among the injured were children and pregnant women.

The second explosion, minutes later at the Huriah Kristen Batak Protestant church, caused no injuries, as the morning service had already finished.

Part of the church roof caved in and two cars parked outside were damaged.

No violence

Wahid says he will not appear before parliament

On Saturday, Mr Wahid appealed to his followers not to turn to violence - but warned that the popular mood might be hard to control.

"If they [go ahead with impeachment], don't blame me if the crowd takes care of everything by themselves," he said.

He refused to be drawn on when or whether he would declare a state of emergency.

Wahid timeline

1 Feb: Parliament censures Wahid over alleged corruption

30 Apr: Second censure from parliament

28 May: Corruption charges dropped

30 May: Parliament votes to impeach Wahid for 'incompetence'

20 Jul: Early impeachment session called

"I have many options. I won't tell what I will do. But I will do something," he said.

A special session of the national assembly voted by an overwhelming majority to summon the president to answer allegations of corruption and incompetence.

If Mr Wahid is voted out of office, Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri is likely to take over, but she has made no comment on the present stand-off.

The country is under full police alert and will remain so for the next week.

On Friday, Mr Wahid went ahead with the controversial installation of a new police chief - though only in a temporary capacity - and this is what appears to have prompted MPs to bring forward the impeachment proceedings.