Jakarta – Indonesian security personnel in the capital on Monday arrested at least nine students who had attempted to protest at the palace against clinging Suharto-era politicians and political and economic practices.

The students, from the Mercu Buana private university in West Jakarta, stepped down from public buses with a flaming flag of the ruling Golkar party and marched towards the front of the Merdeka Palace but were intercepted by police and soliders guarding the area, an AFP photographer said.

A leaflet distributed by the students called for an end to all corrupt political and economic practices prevalent under the 32 years of former president Suharto and the eradication of "criminals" of Suharto's New Order era who still clung to power.

The students were brought to nearby police vehicles where they were questioned, the photographer said.

The state palace is one of the "strategic locations" where public demonstrations are off limits, according to a law governing public protests.

The ruling Golkar is currently under criticism following allegations that it had benefited from an 80 million dollar commission taken by a party deputy treasurer in the Bank Bali interbank debt scandal.

The Bank Bali case has already led to split within the party's ranks opposing those wanting a transparency in the case and those saying that the Bank Bali case did not involve the party.