Regent's supporters occupy office

SURABAYA, East Java: Thousands of supporters of Sampang regent-elect Fadhilah Budiono occupied the local regency office on Monday demanding that he be inaugurated as the new regent within the next three days.

The rally forced all of the regency's employees to flee the office, while several state schools were closed for the day. Around 200 policemen were deployed to guard strategic places in the city.

Fadhilah, who was elected Sampang regent last September, has yet to be inaugurated following protests from several factions at the local legislative council that the election result was not valid because two councillors who had quit the council had cast ballots.

The prolonged dispute came to the fore again on Monday as the protesters, who were backed by most district heads and village leaders in the regency, threatened the authorities if they failed to meet the demand.

"If the governor fails to inaugurate him, we'll not be responsible for what happens to this government," Nurun Tajalla, one of the village leaders, said.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo said it was the minister of home affairs and regional autonomy who had the authority to settle the matter.

"I have informed the minister about this as it is very difficult for me to run the government because of this problem," Imam said. (nur/dja)