Supreme Court option for Wahid

The army would not support Wahid dissolving parliament

The Indonesian Supreme Court could offer the embattled president, Abdurrahman Wahid, a lifeline to avoid impeachment, according to a newspaper report published on Tuesday.

The embattled president has been censured twice by parliament, but the Court could declare the censure motions invalid, because they had been based on the findings of an illegal parliamentary committee, the Jakarta Post reported.

It quoted Justice and Human Rights Minister Baharuddin Lopa as saying: "The Supreme Court may intervene by issuing an opinion on the source of the conflict".

But other experts have disputed the report, saying the Supreme Court does not have the authority to review decisions of the Lower House.

Some supporters want to fight a "holy war" for Wahid

Mr Wahid could also, according to the constitution, dissolve parliament by declaring a state of emergency.

However, senior military officers have repeatedly warned they would not support the president if he attempted the dissolution of parliament.

The president has also rejected any political compromise, such as sharing power with his deputy and rival, Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Ms Megawati, who remains by far the most popular politician in Indonesia, made what was seen as a thinly-veiled attack on Mr Wahid in a speech on Monday, saying that Indonesia risked becoming the sick man of Asia if it failed to make the transition to democracy.

Army closes ranks

I believe the leadership problem will be resolved very soon

Former Minister Ryaas Rasyid

Meanwhile, senior military figures in Indonesia have been responding to reports that President Wahid could be planning to appoint a new army chief of staff.

The leader of the military faction of the lower house, General Budi Harsono, said military commanders could not be replaced on a whim.

And a former army chief, General Rudini, also said the president should not contemplate what he qualified as a reckless act.

Impeachment 'certain'

As Mr Wahid's options for saving his job look increasingly bleak, key political figures have said that the president is virtually certain to face an impeachment hearing.

Megawati made a veiled attack on Wahid in a speech

"The movement towards the special session is already very strong", the leading Kompas daily quoted Amien Rais, a leading critic of the president and chair of the upper house, as saying. "It is difficult to imagine a special session will not happen."

If impeached, Wahid could be found guilty of corruption and removed from office by August.

Ms Megawati would be almost certain to assume the presidency.

A former cabinet minister, Ryaas Rasyid, added to the voices predicting victory for Ms Megawati.

He said: "I believe the leadership problem will be resolved very soon".