Jakarta – Some 200 Metromini bus drivers from around Jakarta staged a protest Monday in front of the company's main office on Jl. Pemuda in East Jakarta, causing heavy traffic congestion.

The demonstration became violent when several drivers tried to pull down the office's gates. They stopped when police arrived on the scene to mediate in talks between the drivers and company representatives. The drivers called for the company's director, TH Panjaitan, to resign.

The strike began early morning and ended peacefully around 2 p.m. when representatives of the drivers, who met with Panjaitan, announced a special meeting would be held in March to elect new leaders.

"Panjaitan's position is illegal because none of us agreed to him being the director," said W. Pandiangan, one of the company's stakeholders. Pandiangan said the company's office should be closed and its assets frozen until new leaders were elected.

Panjaitan told The Jakarta Post the office would stay open to facilitate preparations for the upcoming meeting. He also denied allegations he holds the post as the company's director illegally.