Jenny Grant, Jakarta – Supporters of ousted opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri maintained pressure on the Government yesterday, demanding election results be cancelled and rival Indonesian Democracy Party (PDI) leader Suryadi be sacked.

About 100 of Ms Megawati's loyalists from Jakartan PDI branches issued a statement labelling the current PDI leadership unconstitutional.

The party performed poorly at the general elections last month under the leadership of Mr Suryadi, who was installed by a pro-government faction.

PDI won three per cent of the votes, compared with 15 per cent at the 1992 polls.

Ms Megawati was ousted and replaced by Mr Suryadi at a party congress last June.

"The results are a kind of referendum to show that supporters do not back the results of the PDI congress led by Suryadi," the PDI statement said.

Even pro-Suryadi members yesterday admitted the damaging defeat at the polls would curtail what the party could achieve in Parliament.

"We have lost not only the battle, but also the war. Now we should just accept the results and be realistic about what we can achieve," B. N. Marbun, a PDI official from the Suryadi faction, said.

The three official parties are due to sign the election results tomorrow.

Mr Suryadi's faction is facing strident opposition from Ms Megawati's followers, which threatens to make the party unworkable for the next five-year term.

Representatives of 13 provincial branches from Java, Bali, Sulawesi and Kalimantan visited Ms Megawati's home in South Jakarta on Sunday night to pledge support for her.

"They said they are prepared to fight to prove Suryadi and his PDI are not legal," Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo, a Megawati loyalist who will lose his seat when Parliament resumes on October 1, said.

Ms Megawati is the daughter of the late Sukarno, Indonesia's first president.