JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid said here

JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid said here on Monday the current government was ineffective but denied any involvement in moves to oust President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz.

"I am not joining them," Gus Dur said during a discussion attended by Megawati's main political opponents, including the chairman of the Bung Karno Nationalist Party (PNBK), Eros Djarot, and Gustav Duppe of the People's Struggle Party.

Gus Dur, a former chairman of the 40-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama, said he was told by senior Muslim leaders not to take the lead in opposing Megawati's much-criticized administration.

Late last month, Gus Dur said he was ready to have his name included in a so-called presidium that would serve as an "alternative government" to replace Megawati's administration.

The presidium was proposed by the anti-government Front for People's Suffering Mandate (Ampera), led by Megawati's sister Rachmawati Soekarnoputri and veteran politician Fuad Bawazier of the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Gus Dur said on Monday that if he was named a member of the presidium, he would not take an active role unless he received the blessings of the ulemas.

Gus Dur was ousted from power in 2001 after 20 months in office. He was removed by a coalition led by Megawati, which accused him of corruption and incompetence. --Antara