Wahid claims support of deputy

Demonstrators trying to storm parliament on Monday

Indonesia's embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid, under fire after being implicated in two financial scandals, has insisted he has the key support of his popular deputy and the military.

Sister Mega supports me

President Wahid

"Sister Mega supports me," he told journalists after meeting several ministers, and military and police chiefs at the house of Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri for security talks.

Financial scandals linked with Wahid

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Asked if he also had military backing, he said: "It's the same. Nothing is wrong."

Mr Wahid's leadership appears increasingly shaky after a parliamentary commission concluded in a report - due to be published on Wednesday - that he was involved in a financial scandal and gave false testimony in another scandal.

Parliament is due to issue its verdict on the report on Thursday.

Impeachment

If parliament accepts the report, it could begin the first steps towards impeachment - although many analysts believe that step will not be taken yet.

Securing the support of the vice-president - whose party has enough seats to block attempts at impeachment - was thus crucial for Mr Wahid.

The president could face impeachment charges

The issue has also provoked growing street protests calling for the president to resign or face the charges.

On Monday, several thousand demonstrators stormed the gates of parliament demanding the president step down.

The violence prompted the country's defence minister to warn that the military could seize power if political leaders do not settle their differences and focus on running the country.

Ms Megawati, the daughter of Indonesia's founding leader Sukarno, has appealed to her millions of supporters not to join the street protests.

President Wahid, who went on national television to deny involvement in the scandals on Tuesday, has vowed to serve until his term ends in 2004.

'Corruption and collusion'

There have been huge protests calling for Wahid to resign

A copy of the report obtained by the BBC accuses the president of abusing his powers, lying to the public and creating a new form of corruption, collusion and nepotism within the presidential palace.

However the report appeared to lack concrete evidence against Mr Wahid, the country's first democratically-elected head of state.

The local media has urged Mr Wahid and parliament to strike a peace deal over the row.

The president has frequently battled with parliament, while the rupiah and the stock market have suffered badly.