Students call on leaders to resign

YOGYAKARTA: Dozens of students staged a protest at the front of the local provincial council building on Saturday to demand the resignation of the country's four most prominent political leaders -- President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and House Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

The students said that it was better for the four to just quit their posts rather than prolong the current political uncertainty.

The protesters were members of a splinter group of the Association of Muslim Students.

"The sooner they resign the better. They no longer struggle for the sake of the people, they're not honest leaders," one protester shouted.

"They have betrayed the people's trust. The reform agenda is at risk now," another protester said.

The protesters shut the gate to the council office and prohibited others from entering or leaving the building for several hours.

However, after they met council speaker Surasmo the students agreed to open the gates and eventually dispersed peacefully. (44)