Anti-Gus Dur rally in Padang

PADANG, West Sumatra: Some 2,000 students and members of several Muslim organizations rallied in front of City Council here on Monday, protesting against President Abdurrahman Wahid.

The protesters, calling themselves the Youth and Community Alliance, demanded President Abdurrahman step down and that the People's Consultative Assembly hold a special session to impeach him.

The alliance also condemned the recent unrest in East Java and asked people to uphold the unity of the nation.

They then erected an effigy of the President on the council building's flagpole.

The protesters were received by Council Speaker Arwan Kasri who told them that out of 13 factions in the council, 11 factions wanted the President to resign. Two other factions, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) had yet to take a stand.

Meanwhile, a professor at the Imam Bonjol State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN), Syaifullah, said he supported the movement and vowed to invite all university rectors in Padang to stand behind the students.

"I want the rectors here to act like Gadjah Mada University rector Ichlasul Amal," he said. (28)