Gus Dur supporters rally

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: At least 300 people calling themselves "The Anti-New Order Society" marched here on Friday in support of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

They also demanded that the Golkar Party be dissolved, saying the party is the source of all conflicts in the nation.

"We demand Golkar be dissolved. The Bulog and Brunei scandals that they tried to blow open broke apart this nation," they protested, referring to the financial scandals in which President Abdurrahman is allegedly involved.

The President's supporters also censured People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais for trying to oust President Abdurrahman.

Mochamad Ihsan, coordinator of a group calling itself Banyumas Muslims, said over 200,000 supporters could be amassed to protect the President.

"We will only calm down once (House of Representatives Speaker) Akbar Tandjung and Amien stop trying to oust Gus Dur," they said, referring to Abdurrahman by his nickname.

The group then burned several Golkar party symbols and an effigy of Akbar Tandjung before dispersing late in the afternoon.(45)