Jakarta – The Indonesian army held manoeuvres in central Jakarta yesterday, dropping crack special intervention forces from helicopters in full combat gear.

The unannounced exercise was carried out without a hitch but under the intense scrutiny of passers-by and motorists in Selamat Datang Place, the capital's business centre.

No information was immediately available from officials on the half-hour exercise, which was carried out amid tension in the country over several religious and ethnic killings.

General elections will be held in three months and Indonesian authorities are holding almost daily meetings on possible political security risks.

A hundred soldiers in black fatigues and helmets toting rifles, climbed down ropes from helicopters hovering 30 m overhead.

The troops reassembled in an area sealed off by assault troops in bullet-proof vests, and sped off into the heavy Jakarta traffic on small motorbikes.

The Puma helicopters continued on over the hotels and office blocks of the modern city centre.