President-in-waiting still faces daunting array of obstacles on her procession to power

Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri may be readying herself to assume the presidency, but she faces daunting obstacles before she can be sure of taking power.

First is the wiliness of her opponent, President Abdurrahman Wahid. He amazed observers and cheered financial markets two days ago when he appeared to accept the likelihood of his impeachment. A day later he was back to more usual form, asserting the all-important proviso that any moves against him were acceptable except those which were unconstitutional.

'We can make any kind of political concession as long as it does not go against the constitution. As soon as there is a violation of the constitution, as a nation we must be courageous and take action to prevent the erosion of the constitution,' he said. Mr Wahid's staff confirmed that 'violation' could be taken to mean the President's possible impeachment, as well as the proposal for him to delegate executive authority.

Mr Wahid has never wavered from his view that Parliament's efforts to depose him, on the basis of a committee decision that he might be involved in corruption, are illegal. He says the courts must decide on his guilt first and claims Indonesia's 1945 constitution gives Parliament no right to sanction him anyway.

He also this week threatened to start an immediate re-election campaign if he was impeached and admits he has considered closing Parliament down, perhaps with military help if necessary.

Although many saw Mr Wahid's earlier comment about his own probable impeachment as indicating new-found humility and acceptance of possible eviction from office, his words now appear to indicate the opposite.

Far from admitting defeat in his long-running battle to keep his job, Mr Wahid seems to think even impeachment cannot touch him.