Dean Yates, Jakarta – Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, blasted the United States on Tuesday for its ultimatum to Iraq as moderate Islamic leaders warned that war would trigger major street protests.
The head of Indonesia's second biggest mainstream Muslim organisation branded US President George W. Bush and the leaders of Britain and Spain war criminals, saying they were dragging the world into a war that most did not want.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said the world could not afford to let diplomatic efforts to disarm Iraq die.
"We cannot accept the notion that diplomacy has run its course and we believe at this very important time what is needed is to enhance diplomatic efforts," Natalegawa said.
"But whatever course of action is taken over the next 48 hours, it will not have the support of the Indonesian government. The Indonesian government feels it is not for a single United Nations member to issue an ultimatum."
Bush has given Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to go into exile or face an attack.
Indonesian politicians and religious leaders have said they fear a backlash and possible violence in the world's fourth most populous country if a US attack on Iraq goes ahead.
Although most Indonesian Muslims are moderates, opposition to a war in Iraq is widespread and Jakarta, otherwise a close US ally and supporter of its war on terror, has repeatedly said it would not support an attack.
Strong reaction
Syafii Maarif, head of the 30-million strong moderate Muhammadiyah group, said there would be strong domestic reaction to any attack and a possible increase in extremism.
"We can categorise Mr Bush, Tony Blair and the Spanish prime minister as war criminals," Maarif said, referring to the British prime minister and Jose Maria Aznar of Spain. The three leaders, key allies, met at the weekend on the Iraq crisis.
But Ulil Abshar-Abdalla, a prominent Muslim intellectual, said while he expected big protests, he believed radical Islamic groups had lost momentum since bloody bombings on Indonesia's Bali island in October, which Indonesia has blamed on Islamic militants.
Militants have been relatively muted in the countdown to the expected attack on Iraq and most demonstrations have been peaceful.
Abshar-Abdalla said widespread opposition to conflict in Iraq and protests across the globe had convinced many Indonesians that it would not be a war against Islam. When asked whether a war on Iraq would affect bilateral relations with neighbouring Australia or the United States, Natalegawa said: "We clearly have a different approach to the US and Australia. But we still believe that if managed prudently, there will be no cost to bilateral relations." Australia on Tuesday committed itself to a US-led war on Iraq. About 2,000 Australian troops are in the Middle East.
Natalegawa said Jakarta's embassy in Iraq had temporarily shut and all its 10 diplomatic staff had been evacuated. About 35,000 Indonesians live in neighbouring Kuwait and Natalegawa said preparations were under way to ensure their safety.
[With additional reporting by Joanne Collins.]