Wahid in crisis talks

Wahid's supporters have promised to fight a 'holy war'

Beleaguered Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has met with senior ministers as a top official of the country's largest party said an impeachment looked increasingly likely.

Parliament voted overwhelmingly to censure Mr Wahid over corruption allegations on Tuesday, leaving the president's grip on power increasingly tenuous.

The president is studying [the suggestions] carefully and considering the next steps

Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

There were 363 votes in favour of the censure, 52 against and 42 abstentions.

Officials at the state palace said the 61-year-old Muslim cleric still believes he can negotiate a deal with his political rivals to stay in office, and has no intention of resigning.

The two hour meeting with ministers was described as "very constructive" by Senior Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"The president is studying [the suggestions] carefully and considering the next steps," he said.

President Wahid: Under pressure

In a separate development, thousands of workers staged peaceful rallies in major cities across the country demanding May Day be declared an official public holiday.

They also pressed for greater freedom to organise and an end to arbitrary layoffs.

May Day rallies were banned for decades under former President Suharto.

One month

The secretary-general of the largest party in the country's parliament, Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), said there was a "greater chance" of an impeachment.

The official, Sutjipto, said party leader - Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri - would continue to support the president, but that this did not mean personal support for Mr Wahid.

President Wahid - who has repeatedly protested his innocence - will address the nation on Wednesday, palace officials said.

Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the motion

He has one month to respond to the parliamentary motion.

If the legislators are not satisfied with his response, there is likely to be a special session of the highest legislative body, which needs only a simple majority to vote the president out of office.

Mr Wahid's apparent resolve to stay in office may rest on his thousands of supporters who are willing to fight a "holy war" for him.

Jakarta was on high alert amid fears of violence on Tuesday, as several thousand Wahid supporters had rallied in pouring rain, warning of bloodshed if he was ousted.

The protesters were barred from marching to the parliament building.

The allegations

The president was first censured by parliament at the beginning of February.

He has consistently denied financial wrongdoings in the two scandals that parliament has been investigating.

One of the scandals, dubbed Bulogate, involves the president's personal masseur who allegedly fled with $4m from the national food agency, Bulog.

The other scandal, "Bruneigate", involves an alleged $2m donation from the Sultan of Brunei.