The United States has given a strong warning to the Indonesian military not to attempt to overthrow the democratically-elected government in Jakarta.

The American ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, said he viewed with the utmost concern recent reports about a possible military coup.

Speaking in New York, during a telephone conference with Indonesian journalists, he also accused the generals of obstructing an inquiry into the violence that followed the vote for independence in East Timor.

The BBC Jakarta correspondent says there's uncertainty over how military commanders will react if forced to appear before a court.

President Abdurrahman Wahid last week ordered a major shake-up of the military hierarchy following reports of mounting friction with his top generals.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service