Jakarta – Thousands of angry protesters demanding President Abdurrahman Wahid's resignation trashed part of Indonesia's Parliament yesterday.

The demonstrators, some wearing white headbands, smashed lamps and chairs in the lobby of the parliamentary complex. Outnumbered police stood by and the violence only stopped when protest leaders brought the situation under control.

Lawmakers belonging to Mr Abdurrahman's Nation Awakening Party met the group to discuss its demands. But other deputies refused to speak to the protesters.

A statement released by the organisers of the protest urged Parliament to convene a special session that would impeach Mr Abdurrahman, whom they accused of incompetence and womanising.

The President has denied having had an affair. The statement demanded that Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri take over the top post.