PPP rally claims one life

SURAKARTA: One bystander was killed during a United Development Party (PPP) street rally that involved hundreds of supporters in Klaten district Sunday, a report said yesterday.

The victim, 68-year-old Ardjo Suwito, was fatally hit by a vehicle used by party supporters who swarmed the city's streets unfurling banners and shouting slogans.

The rally was held in celebration of the party's 24th anniversary, Antara reported. The party supporters were headed for Wonogiri, where PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum addressed a gathering of 12,000 party cadres.

The street rally brought together people from Klaten, Sukoharjo, Sukakarta, Karanganyar, Boyolali and Sragen. It triggered traffic jams in every town it passed.

The crowd also vandalized a bus which refused to give way to the rally on the outskirts of Wonogiri. (pan)