PPP prays for Hamzah

SEMARANG: Over 10,000 supporters of the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) prayed in Ungaran near here on Friday for the party chairman, Hamzah Haz, to win his presidential bid.

In a frenzied street rally in the small town, the drum beating and flag waving party supporters chanted holy verses while carrying a huge picture of Hamzah, who was not present in the campaign.

Earlier in the day, party campaigners M. Thoyfoer and Irham Mukhaha warned the crowd of possible groups who might try to provoke PPP supporters to fight fellow Muslims.

Meanwhile the Central Java capital turned blue as National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais visited here to seal his energy-sapping campaign. In his address to approximately 40,000 party supporters, Amien reiterated a call to put national unity ahead of differences in ethnic background, religions, social status and educational level. (har)