Wahid sacks minister

The confrontation has spilled onto the streets

By the BBC's Richard Galpin in Jakarta

Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has sacked one of his cabinet ministers in the midst of a growing political crisis which could see Mr Wahid himself removed from office within the next few months.

The Forestry Minister, Nur Mahmudi Ismail, is the second minister to leave the government since last month, when parliament officially censured President Wahid over corruption allegations.

Officials say Mr Ismail has been dismissed to enable improvements to be made to the ministry.

Pressure increases on President Wahid to go

A spokesman for the president told the BBC Mr Wahid wanted to appoint someone more appropriate who would be able to tackle effectively the many issues facing the forestry ministry, not least the huge environmental problems caused by illegal logging and fires.

But the sacking also seems likely to be connected with the current political crisis.

Tension mounts

The pressure on President Wahid to resign is mounting steadily.

The campaign is being led by a group of Islamic parties, including the Justice Party, which was co-founded by Nur Mahmudi Ismail.

As the tension escalates, it is becoming increasingly difficult for ministers connected with the Islamic bloc to remain in the government.

But the news is not entirely bleak for President Wahid.

On Thursday two ministers from another party trying to unseat Mr Wahid refused to quit the government and, instead, have been expelled from their party.

Thousands of his supporters have also been taking to the streets in the capital, Jakarta, and in East Java. They are demanding that parliament immediately drop its plans to impeach the president.

Mr Wahid himself is planning to give his official response to the corruption allegations very soon.

A spokesman said a letter could be ready early next week.