Indonesia brings forward presidential impeachment
The Indonesian parliament is starting impeachment proceedings against President Abdurrahman Wahid.
The decision to bring forward the hearings by 11 days comes after a day of political brinkmanship in Jakarta.
Parliamentary chairman Amien Rais says Wahid must address allegations of corruption, incompetence and constitutional violations.
The assembly had originally been scheduled to begin impeachment proceedings on August 1, but leaders of the main factions within parliament met today and decided to bring it forward.
The decision follows Wahid's threats to declare a state of emergency and close down the assembly on July 31.
The president has also angered MPs when he went against their wishes and installed a temporary national police chief, even though the parliament has not approved the dismissal of the incumbent commander.
Rais claimed that the appointment was a clear constitutional breach.
It is not immediately clear if Wahid will agree to the assembly demand that he account for his 21 months in office.
Earlier, he repeated that an attempt to impeach him would be illegal and that he will not deliver an accountability speech.
There has been no immediate reaction from Wahid's state palace to Rais' announcement.
