Wahid faces fast track dismissal

The army is ready to defend parliament

The chairman of the Indonesian parliament has told the BBC that the impeachment process against President Abdurrahman Wahid will be speeded up, voting the president out of office in a matter of hours.

"God willing, if everything goes on smoothly, I think that there is a large possibility that we will have a new president [on Monday] afternoon

Amien Rais
MPR chairman

Amien Rais said that he expected Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri to be sworn in by lunchtime local time.

The president had declared a statement of emergency and suspended parliament just hours before the impeacment session in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) began.

But the president failed to obtain the vital backing of the military or police, which was vital to his chances of staying in powers.

The country's security minister resigned, and Jakarta's police chief has ordered his men to guard the parliament building and ensure that the impeachment hearing can go ahead, according to the official Antara news agency.

Wahid's declaration

Parliament suspended

Elections to be held in one year's time

Golkar party disbanded

"The decree by the president must be ignored," said Mr Rais.

"To all chiefs of the military and the Indonesian police, there is no need to pay attention to the decree," he added.

Megawati arrived at the heavily guarded parliament building just minutes before the hearing began, and was warmly applauded as she took a seat at the front of the chamber.

Security Minister Agum Gumelar had earlier met President Wahid for an hour of talks, from which he emerged saying: "Save this nation, do not let this nation disintegrate."

Wahid could be facing his last few hours in office

He resigned soon afterwards, along with Cabinet Secretary Marzuki Darusman.

Akbar Tandjung, head of the Golkar party, who is also speaker of parliament, said that Mr Wahid's move was "authoritarian and dictatorial".

Live on TV

Mr Wahid went on television in the early hours of Monday morning to declare the state of emergency.

Megawati: MPR chairman says she could take over on Monday

He also said he intended to establish a body to oversee new elections within a year, and he suspended the Golkar party.

Golkar was formerly provided the political power base of ex-President Suharto and become a major force in the campaign to oust Mr Wahid.

The president said that the police and armed forces "have the obligation to stave off the special session that is to be held [on Monday] morning because there should not be any rival governments".

Mr Wahid has repeatedly warned that the giant country could break apart if parliament tries to remove him from office.

Leader in waiting

Megawati has long been thought likely to take over if the president is dismissed by parliament.

The military appear to have run out of patience with Wahid

MPR chairman Amien Rais told journalists at the parliament: "God willing, if everything goes on smoothly, I think that there is a large possibility that we will have a new president [on Monday] afternoon".

The assembly elected Mr Wahid in October 1999 as Indonesia's first democratic leader in more than four decades.

Megawati, who leads Indonesia's largest political party, is the daughter of its founding leader and former President, Sukarno, who was himself impeached by the assembly amid political turmoil in 1966.

Bomb blasts

On Sunday, bombs exploded at two churches in the capital, Jakarta, injuring more than 60 worshippers at a Roman Catholic church.

More than 60 people were injured in two bomb explosions on Sunday morning

The bombs went off as people were attending Sunday morning services.

Police said there was a direct link between the explosions and the political crisis in the country.

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