Indonesia protects U.S. embassy

By Atika Shubert and Amy Chew
CNN Jakarta Bureau

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Radical Islamic groups in Indonesia have threatened to attack Americans as part of a "jihad" or holy war following the U.S.-led strikes against Afghanistan.

"This shows that the U.S. is clearly a nation that has made an enemy of Islam and this is a very dangerous position for America," said Ja'far Umar Thalib, head of Indonesia's largest militant group, Jihad Army.

"God willing, this will raise the worldwide solidarity of the Islamic people, especially the Islamic people of Indonesia, in facing America as the biggest enemy of the Islamic people," he said.

Such calls have sparked not only an increased presence of troops throughout Jakarta with security forces on high alert, but it has also led to 40 armored vehicles now positioned near the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.

The Defenders of Islam, a small but vocal group based in the capital, Jakarta, called on all Muslims in Indonesia to besiege the U.S. Embassy Monday evening.

They are also demanding that the Indonesian government sever diplomatic relations with the U.S.

Muslim groups in Indonesia say they have a list of 2,000 Americans and have threatened "to sweep" them in retaliation for the U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan.

"We ask Megawati to sever diplomatic ties with the U.S. and her allies. If not, we will oust her," said Mohamad Novval , secretary general of Laskar Hizbullah.

International schools in the city were closed Monday and the U.S. Embassy and British embassy have both asked their nationals to stay at home until a more certain security assessment can be made.

There are no plans to evacuate yet. The U.S. Embassy was closed Monday as previously planned for the American Columbus Day holiday and is considering whether to open Tuesday.

Holy war

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Several Islamic groups say they have prepared as many as 160,000 people to carry out their war against the United States and its citizens.

"We now call upon the Islamic world especially Muslims in Indonesia to unite to carry out concrete steps in the form of pressure against all kinds of American influence as well as other possible means to stop the tyranny of the United States," said Din Syamsuddin secretary general of the Indonesian Council of Ulama

Indonesia is the world's largest Islamic country under a secular government. More than 80 percent of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslim.

Rising radicalism has overshadowed Indonesia's moderate Muslim majority, allowing more militant groups to voice their opinions.

Limit attacks

Responding to the strikes on Afghanistan, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda urged the U.S.-led coalition to limit its attacks and try to avoid hurting and killing innocent people.

At the same time, he called on Indonesians to stay calm in the wake of brewing violence against American nationals by militant Islamic groups in Indonesia.

"The government of Indonesia calls for the Indonesian people not to overreact in expressing their and sympathy towards the suffering of the Afghanistan people and not to engage in activities that are violating the laws and may disturb security and public order," said Wirayuda.

Indonesia's top security minister Bambang Yudhoyono echoed his calls, saying the government would crack down on those who broke the law.

"We will no tolerate any action that is perceived as threatening the lives and security of foreign nationals," he said