Police fire tear gas at Indonesian rioters
Police in Indonesia have fired tear gas and warning shots as thousands of rock-throwing demonstrators stormed the gates of parliament.
Three students were badly beaten by police as running battles broke out.
Around 10,000 protesters marched through the streets, demanding that President Abdurrahman Wahid quit over two corruption scandals.
Inside the legislature, politicians met in a closed session to hear the results of a long-running investigation into two scandals that have bogged down Wahid's 15-month administration.
"Wahid must resign immediately," said Ijan, one of the students. Like many Indonesians, he only uses one name.
Police say about 1,000 supporters of Wahid have also gathered inside the gates of the parliamentary compound.
Speaking to reporters at the presidential palace, Wahid dismissed the significance of the anti-government demonstration and laughed off demands that he should step down.
The investigation into the two scandals represents the biggest political challenge to Wahid since he was elected to office in late 1999 after years of authoritarian rule.
Lawmakers have not yet publicly released their findings. However, many say there is sufficient evidence to implicate Wahid in both scandals, despite the president's repeated denials of any wrongdoing.
The investigation concerns allegations that Wahid's one-time business partner used the president's name to dupe the government's main food agency, Bulog, into handing over £2.7 million from its pension fund and that Wahid also accepted £1.4 million from the Sultan of Brunei.
