Jakarta – The Indonesian Parliament has rejected a motion to set up a special committee to investigate a graft scandal involving House speaker Akbar Tandjung.

Yesterday's decision sparked dissent outside parliament and police had to use a water cannon to disperse about 300 student protesters.

The clash occurred after protesters toppled a main gate at the parliament building. A photographer was hurt, allegedly by police, during the melee.

Student groups maintain Mr Akbar will escape justice if he merely has to face Indonesia's notoriously corrupt legal system. They say a parliamentary probe would increase political pressure on him to quit politics and expose other key politicians allegedly involved in the affair.

'The legislators are traitors. They are not friends of the reform movement,' one protester said.

Mr Akbar is on trial for corruption. As state secretary under President B. J. Habibie in 1999, he was charged with overseeing a 40-billion rupiah programme to feed poor families in Java.

Mr Akbar, who also heads the Golkar party, has said he appointed a little-known foundation to arrange the food delivery but prosecutors say there is no evidence any food was ever distributed.