Wahid agrees to meet critics

Wahid's supporters say they are ready to defend the president in a holy war

In this story: Megawati confirms attendance Fears of violence RELATED STORIES

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) -- Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Tuesday he would meet three top politicians to discuss the nation's political problems.

Wahid plans to hold talks with Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, and the heads of the country's two legislative assemblies: Akbar Tandjung and Amien Rais. Both men have become the president's most vocal critics.

The discussions are expected to focus broadly on the nation's problems, but a fixed date has not yet been set for these talks.

"The date is not decided yet because of business, but all are agreed about the dialogue," Wahid told reporters.

Wahid is fighting to stave off moves to impeach him after 17 turbulent months in office as the country's first democratically elected leader.

Calls for the near-blind president to resign increased after parliament first censured him in February over two financial scandals. Wahid has rejected the censure as "baseless."

Megawati confirms attendance

Separately, an official from Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) confirmed that the hugely popular vice-president was willing to attend the meeting.

"The chief (of PDI-P) is ready to attend the meeting as long as it has a clear agenda," PDI-P Secretary-General Sutjipto told reporters after a party meeting chaired by Megawati.

Wahid and several other political leaders have rejected suggestions that one way out of the mounting political crisis would be to change the constitution to allow Megawati to run the government.

The presidency would then become a largely ceremonial role.

Fears of violence

Fears are growing that, as the political temperature rises, Wahid's sometimes fanatical supporters could turn violent.

The nation's biggest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, led by Wahid before he took office, met on Wednesday to decide if efforts to oust the president amounted to rebellion, and they would therefore be justified under Islamic law to kill his foes.

The Jakarta Post daily reported last Friday that as many as 20,000 people were ready to die for the president in a holy war.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Politicians warn of Indonesia strife
March 29, 2001
Instability in Indonesia
Indonesians may murder for Wahid
April 3, 2001

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