The head of Indonesia's top legislature has urged the country’s beleagured president Mr Abdurrahman Wahid to surrender power peacefully to avoid impeachment and months of instability and confusion.
The head of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Mr Amien Rais - once an ally of Mr Wahid and now one of his most vocal critics - said the president had lost public support because of his stumbling leadership and a parliamentary censure over two corruption scandals.
Meanwhile local police fired warning shots today as Wahid supporters set alight an office of the rival Golkar Party in East Java, increasing fears political tension could erupt into violence.
"He has to resign," Mr Rais said. "It is about time for my brother president to step down because if he does not resign I'm afraid he will be humiliated, he will be impeached."
Thousands of Mr Wahid’s supporters rallied for the third consecutive day in heavily populated East Java, chanting and waving banners reading: "We are ready to die for Gus Dur! (Wahid)".
The rallies turned violent, with demonstrators stoning and setting fire to the Golkar office before police dispersed them with warning shots. Yesterday there were minor clashes between Wahid supporters and opponents in the area.
Reuters