Indonesia's cabinet met yesterday to grapple with a growing political crisis amid speculation that President Abdurrahman Wahid planned to declare a state of emergency to stave off possible impeachment.

Mr Wahid called the meeting but failed to attend. An irritated Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri also stayed away, telling supporters she was ready to fulfil her party's demand that she take power. Ministers met for nearly three hours and said afterwards there was no easy solution to the crisis.

Mr Wahid's opponents are afraid he plans to dissolve Parliament before it can move against him. Mr Wahid insists Parliament has no right to sanction him over alleged involvement in financial scandals.