Mob threatens Wahid critic

Pro-Wahid protests follow those by opponents

Supporters of embattled Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid took to the streets on Thursday, calling for one of his leading critics to be killed.

Support for Gus Dur (Wahid's nickname) was made clear

In the port of Ketapang - in the president's stronghold of East Java - thousands of protesters carrying sickles and machetes, vowed to attack Amien Rais, the national assembly speaker pushing for the president's impeachment.

In the capital Jakarta, some 1,500 protestors shouting "Kill Amien Rais!" demonstrated near the presidential palace and then marched on parliament.

Mr Wahid has come under growing pressure to step down over allegations of corruption and incompetence.

The political crisis in Jakarta has seen both supporters and opponents take to the streets in violent demonstrations, at times in tit-for-tat style.

Political blow

Thursday's protest follows a two-day sit-in at the parliament buildings by opponents of Mr Wahid.

Amien Rais has made no secret about his leadership ambitions

Reports said that a group of about 10 people on Thursday barged into Mr Rais' office at the national legislative building, shouting at his staff. They left after finding he was not there.

Mr Rais suffered a political blow on Wednesday when two cabinet ministers resigned from his National Mandate Party.

The two had opted to stay in the coalition government, defying an order by Mr Rais to quit.

A former ally who helped put the president in power, Mr Rais is now leading the calls for Mr Wahid to step down.

Wahid censured

He has made no secret about his own leadership ambitions and has been pushing hard for an early session of the Upper House to discuss the president's censure and possible impeachment.

Mr Wahid was censured by parliament last month over his alleged involvement in two corruption scandals.

The rupiah and the stock market have suffered badly

Members of the 40-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest national Muslim organisation once headed by Mr Wahid, have been holding demonstrations in support of the president.

The stock exchange also saw a small protest on Thursday by a group of business people demanding the government restore economic and political stability.

Many called on the president to resign. "We all know things are getting worse. Investors are leaving," said stockbroker Zulfiyan Alamsyah. "We can hope for nothing more from Wahid."

As dusk fell, the demonstrators remained spread out on the sprawling parliamentary complex in Jakarta.

"Our plan is to overnight here while waiting for the arrival of our other friends," said Abdul Ghofur, 47, who had come from Surabaya in East Java.

He was referring to groups of Wahid supporters, mainly from Nahdlatul Ulama, who were on their way to the capital by land and by sea from several regions in Java.