Fears of widespread violence if Parliament pushes ahead with session to oust President

Terror is spreading in the strongholds of President Abdurrahman Wahid and hundreds of his aggressive supporters have arrived in Jakarta ahead of today's parliamentary session, which will almost certainly call for his impeachment.

District officials from Pasaruan, East Java, fled to Jakarta, saying mobs had closed their offices. A pro-Wahid mob of about 5,000 burned a Protestant church in Pasaruan and other buildings associated with his rivals. Police fired warning shots as crowds burned tyres in the streets, threw firecrackers and tried to attack the police station.

Local councillor Ahmad Sufiyaji said the few security guards could do little to control the mass of armed rioters.

Police searched train and bus passengers arriving in the capital yesterday from East Java, confiscating sickles, machetes, bamboo spears and other weapons.

In the provincial capital Surabaya, police also fired warning shots to disperse 3,000 Wahid fans as they tried to storm the local parliament, witnesses said. Similar crowds were reported in Jombang, Mr Wahid's home town, and in Sidoarjo, south of Surabaya. In Lampung, South Sumatra, two bombs exploded near the homes of the local district head and the local Golkar party boss. Windows were shattered but no injuries reported, state news agency Antara reported.

Wahid supporters say Parliament must not call for a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the only body that can vote Mr Wahid from office. They note the Attorney-General has absolved Mr Wahid of alleged corruption, Parliament's basis for impeachment, and some see Mr Wahid as little short of God.