Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – President Abdurrahman Wahid has sacked a minister from one of the political parties trying to oust him in an apparent bid to remove disloyal aides from his Cabinet.

Forestry Minister Nurmahmudi Ismail, who headed the Islamic Justice Party until last year, was replaced by Mr Marzuki Usman, former minister of tourism and arts in the Habibie administration.

"Mr Nurmahmudi was dismissed because he and the President had different vision and policy orientation, and he has not been able to restrain the Justice Party mass," Defence Minister Mohammad Mahfud told journalists at the presidential palace.

Members of the Justice Party have taken part in street demonstrations with students in the past few weeks to pressure Mr Abdurrahman to step down.

But Mr Nurmahmudi told journalists yesterday he was sacked most likely because he defied Mr Abdurrahman's order to sack his ministry's secretary-general, Mr Suripto.

In a joint press conference with Mr Suripto, Mr Nurmahmudi said the latter had been accused of conspiring with some military officers to topple the President and of being behind anti-Abdurrahman street demonstrations.

He said Mr Abdurrahman had accused the secretary-general of plotting with Maj-General Muhdi Purwopranjono, the former chief of the army special force Kopassus, to remove him from power.

Mr Suripto, one of the Justice Party's founders, was also accused of helping the fugitive son of former president Suharto, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, escape in one of the ministry's helicopters. "I kept telling Gus Dur that I would not fire Mr Suripto merely because of unproven accusations," Mr Nurmahmudi said.

Mr Nurmahmudi also denied that he had done a poor job rooting out graft in the ministry, saying timber tycoon Mohamad "Bob" Hasan had been jailed.

The minister's dismissal came as a surprise to many. He had been perceived as one of Mr Abdurrahman's trusted aides, especially after he decided to stay in the Cabinet last year, and gave up his party position and membership.

Mr Nurmahmudi is the second minister dismissed this year. Minister of Law and Legislations Yusril Ihza Mahendra of the Crescent Star Party was removed in February.