The Indonesian parliament is heading for a confrontation with President Abdurrahman Wahid, as it decides whether to push for his impeachment. As thousands of Mr Wahid's supporters marched on the parliament building in Jakarta on Wednesday, the country's two main parties called for him to face an impeachment hearing.
Security forces are on alert to block any attempt to storm the parliament building.
In a letter read out at the parliament session, Mr Wahid strongly denied the allegations of corruption and incompetence made against him. MPs are expected to vote overwhelmingly in favour of holding an impeachment hearing in the upper house as soon as possible. It is estimated that up to 10,000 of Mr Wahid's supporters are now in Jakarta to stage demonstrations and are threatening a bloodbath. A majority of MPs want Megawati to become president Troop reinforcements have been parachuted into East Java, Mr Wahid's home province. The move came after troops fired shots in the air to disperse hundreds of his supporters in the town of Pasuruan.