Jakarta – A coalition of political activists protested at the presidential office here Thursday against new regulations restricting public demonstration and putting key installations including the palace off-limits, witnesses said.

Carrying banners reading "Don't repress the people" and "The danger of the old order" the men, women and student protestors were shoved back from the front fence of the white walled palace coumpound which also houses the presidential office, by mobile police, an AFP reporter said. Armed green beret troops directed traffic around the demonstrators, but did not intervene, the reporter said.

The new regulations were issued last month as a spate of demonstrations erupted throughout the capital and in the country's major cities following the fall of former president Suharto on May 21. Most of the protests have been to demand reform of old laws and a redress of long-standing grievances against Suharto-era regulations.

The places put off limits under the laws, which also require prior notification, and in the case of large numbers, prior permission, include the presidential palace, places of worship and military installations.