The report, published on Tuesday, said army units had fomented unrest to justify declaring emergency powers.

General Wiranto told journalists in Jakarta: "The team was asked only to find facts from people, to get testimony and to report to the cabinet ministers who had assigned them."

He said it was not supposed to publish conclusions.

However, the official Indonesian news agency said he would follow the team's call for further investigations into the rioting and for the protection of witnesses.

Report calls for disciplinary steps

Jim Fish looks back on the riots of May 1998

The official investigation ordered by President BJ Habibie said that the army had attempted something very close to a coup d'etat - although it did not say whether it would have been for or against the then President Suharto.

The chairman of the inquiry, Marzuki Darusman, said there was clearly a conspiracy to cause a crisis.

The group says President Habibie is responsible for implementing the recommendations

The only individual singled out for blame is Mr Suharto's son-in law, Major-General Prabowo Subianto. The report calls for him to be court-martialled for his role in the disappearance of political activists.

He is believed to have played a key role in the riots.

At the time, Major-General Prabowo headed the key Strategic Reserve forces. He has since been disciplined and removed from active service, although he has not been court-martialled.

The report also calls for other military officers to be held responsible.

Pressure on Habibie

The recommendations will increase pressure on President Habibie's government - both from the still-powerful army, which it cannot afford to alienate and from continuing public demands for greater democracy.

Report recommends court martial for Major-General Prabowo

The army has traditionally been a powerful influence on Indonesian politics - it is allocated a large number of seats in the parliament. Many Indonesians now want this privilege removed.

Over 1,000 people died in the riots that hit Jakarta and at least five other cities across Indonesia in May, eventually forcing President Suharto to resign and to be replaced by BJ Habibie.

Witnesses interviewed for the report said they saw men with short, military-style haircuts roaming the capital and other cities urging crowds to riot.

Ethnic Chinese raped

Much of Jakarta descended into anarchy. Many who died were looters, trapped in burning buildings.

The report also confirms at least 52 cases of ethnic Chinese women being targeted for rape or sexual abuse.