They were met by hundreds of police and troops, but there were no reports of violence or arrests. About 100 others later rallied nearby in support of Habibie. Soldiers have been back on the nation's streets to quell looting and rioting. Hundreds of houses and shops have been burned, many belonging to the ethnic Chinese minority resented for their business success and comparative wealth. Curfews are being enforced, and one military commander was reported to have ordered his men to shoot troublemakers on sight.
Anger seethes over Indonesia's dire economic straits and government corruption.
Other protesters ripped down the gates of the national Parliament demanding lower food prices and retribution for corruption and human rights violations under Suharto. Habibie is trying to cool feelings by providing cheap rice to the growing ranks of poor among Indonesia's 202 million people. The military, which underpinned Suharto's iron grip on power, has promised to reform itself. Habibie has known Suharto since boyhood and served loyally in his Cabinet for 20 years. But faced with mounting pressure, he ordered last week that the former leader be questioned on allegations of corruption.