October 20, 2001	Saturday	Shaba'an 2, 1422

JAKARTA, Oct 19: An estimated ten thousand Muslims flooded the heart of the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Friday in the largest protest so far against US-led attacks on Afghanistan.

Chanting, singing and drum-beating protesters — mostly from the religious Justice Party — brought traffic to a standstill as they marched through the city centre behind a huge banner reading “Stop War - Save Afghanistan.”

Vice President Hamzah Haz earlier pleaded for an end to protests in the world’s largest Muslim-populated nation, saying they were wrecking the already fragile economy.

“I ask the people to stop the demonstrations,” Haz — the leader of the United Development Party, Indonesia’s largest Muslim party — was quoted as saying by the state Antara news agency.

“If our friends want to help our brothers in Afghanistan, help them by sending medicine and prayers.”

Responding to militants’ demands to sever relations with the US, Haz said Indonesia is a poor country and the United States is its second largest investor.

“We don’t need to press for boycotts or cut relations with the US. We can see the reality. Even without declaring a boycott, foreigners have already left Indonesia. This has an extremely big influence on the economic sector,” he added.

After three days of calm protests resumed after Friday prayers with a mass march from the National Monument to the nearby US embassy.

The embassy remains tightly guarded by rows of razor wire and hundreds of riot police carrying batons and shields.

Protesters moved on to the United Nations building, then filled all five southbound lanes of the main Jalan Thamrin thoroughfare accompanied by buses, motorcycles and loudspeaker trucks.

“Bush equals Hitler” read one banner. “America and Israel the real terrorists” and “Save Palestine and Afghanistan against brutalism and terrorism of America and Israel” read others.—AFP