The Indonesian parliament todayvoted overwhelmingly to issue a second censure against PresidentAbdurrahman Wahid over two financial scandals, opening the way for a possible impeachment of thehead of state.
The decision, taken by open vote, was 363 for a censure, 52against and 42 abstaining.
"Therefore, a second memorandum can be agreed by the plenarysession with 363 votes", deputy house chairman Mr Sutarjo Suryoguritnosaid after the vote, taken by visual count with voters standing up.
Most of those against the censure were from the NationalAwakening Party which counts Mr Wahid as one of its patrons, while the abstainees included all 38 members of the military/police faction.
MrWahid will have one month to respond to the censure motion and if the lower house deems his response unsatisfactory, it could call for a special session of the national assembly to demand the president account for his rule so far.
A rejection of the account would constitute an impeachment.
AFP