Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Rallies for the South Sulawesi gubernatorial pair candidates Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Agus Arifin Nu'mang intensified a day prior to the official inauguration scheduled for Saturday.

Thousands of people took to the streets to demand the central government swear in the pair to replace incumbent Governor Amin Syam, whose term ended Friday.

In the recent gubernatorial election the pair garnered 1.43 million votes to Amin's 1.4 million, leading the province chapter of the General Elections Commission to declare Syahrul and Agus the winners.

On Dec. 19 last year, however, the Supreme Court ordered a repeat election due to 8,000 illegal votes. It called for new elections in four regencies to take place within three to four months. Protesters called the Supreme Court ruling contradictory to the law and a waste of funds. They also rejected the government's plans to appoint an interim governor until new elections could be held, warning that if the government failed to install Syahrul and Agus on Saturday, they would swear in the pair according to South Sulawesi traditions.

Crowds arriving from around South Sulawesi held protests in a number of places, including the gubernatorial office, the legislative council and Bank Indonesia buildings. Police barricaded entrances to the legislative building and gubernatorial office with barbed wire to prevent protesters from storming the buildings.

Protesters blocked the road and burned tires in front of the legislative building and the governor's official residence.

They also blocked the border road between Gowa and Makassar, with burning tires causing congestion and forcing traffic detours.

A clash at one point ensued at the Bank Indonesia building when someone tossed rocks at the crowd from behind the fence at Karebosi Square. The angry crowd tried to find the perpetrator, but quick action from security forces prevented the situation from becoming unruly.

When the bank manager failed to appear before the crowd, protesters entered the building and banged on the doors. The incident did not last long since protest coordinators were able to appease the crowd, and they left the office soon thereafter.

The rally lasted into the late afternoon and left many shopping centers deserted, especially in the Chinatown areas of Jl. Somba Opu, Jl. Sulawesi and Jl. Dr. Sam Ratulangi.

Office activities, especially at government agencies, were disrupted because some civil servants took part in the rally.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, Vice President Jusuf Kalla insisted the government would install Harus Saruns Dayeng, a senior official at the Home Ministry, as interim governor until the province could hold its repeat election.

Amin Syam's official defeat in the gubernatorial election was seen as a slap in the face for the Golkar Party, as the province had been known for its strong support of the party.

The General Election Commission has yet to set a schedule for a repeat election in the four regencies.