Jakarta – Jakarta Police released on Friday 20 protesters who staged a rally in front of the residence of President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday, El Shinta radio station reported.

The protesters, mostly studets, were arrested late on Thursday for allegedly violating "law of freedom of expression before public", said Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo.

They ignored the police's order to stop the demonstration because Law No. 9/1998 on freedom of speech before public prohibited anybody to stage a rally at night or in a housing complex, he said.

Police has taken strict measures against anti-government demonstrations since Megawati complained that she couldn't accept the demonstrators' acts, which often burnt her effigies or damaged her pictures.