Teargas fired in Jakarta

Authorities are not afraid to break up Muslim protests

Indonesian riot police have fired teargas and water cannon to disperse about 300 anti-US Muslim protesters outside the parliament building in Jakarta.

They are trying to get inside the parliament complex and that is an act of anarchy

Jakarta police chief Inspector General Sofyan Jacoeb

Police said they took action after protestors from radical Islamic groups including the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) refused to disperse, and threatened to storm the parliament building.

Witnesses spoke of riot police beating protesters and some journalists.

The protesters were demanding a clear statement from the Indonesian Government against the air strikes on Afghanistan.

Protests have been banned on Monday because it is is a public holiday

It marked the first significant protest in the capital after a quiet weekend.

More than 20 member of the FPI were detained over the weekend on charges of possessing weapons including knives and swords.

The FPI warned last week it would search out Americans and Britons to drive them out of the country.

Megawati speech

Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri on Sunday signalled for the first time a softening of her support for US President George W Bush's war on terrorism.

Whoever commits terror must be punished

Megawati Sukarnoputri

Speaking at Jakarta's main mosque she said: "No individual, group or government has the right to look for terrorists by attacking another country's territory."

Her speech made no mention of the United States or Afghanistan by name, but correspondents say her message represents a diplomatic blow for Washington.

Hamzah Haz called for the air strikes to stop

Megawati was the first Muslim leader to visit Washington after the 11 September attacks.

Her new comments are seen as a setback in Mr Bush's carefully constructed alliance against terrorism.

It is also being viewed as bowing to the feelings of the people of Indonesia, which has the largest population of Muslims in the world.

Vice President Hamzah Haz has already broken ranks with the government and called for a halt to US-led strikes in Afghanistan, fearing large civilian casualties.