Jakarta – Indonesian police have banned weekend commemorations marking one year since riots in Jakarta left five people dead and more than 100 injured. Jenny Grant reports authorities are concerned the ceremonies may trigger new violence in the capital.

Spokesman for the national police, Colonel Bambang Haryoko, said the prayer and flower laying ceremonies planned for Saturday and Sunday could create a security disturbance if too many people joined in. he said mass gatherings in Indonesia often turn violent and become difficult to contain.

Opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri wrote to police notifying them her supporters wanted to commemorate one-year since the riots. Supporters want to hold a prayer session at her home saturday, and a wreath laying ceremony at the headquarters of her Indonesian Democracy Party, the PDI, Sunday.

PDI official Haryanto Taslam said he expects the events will go ahead, even without the required police permit.

He said the memorial ceremonies are spontaneous events and not organized by the PDI.

The government wants to prevent a repeat of street violence last year which left five people dead and more than 120 injured. The riots were sparked by a raid on the PDI headquarters by the military and supporters of Ms. Megawati's rival Suryadi.

Observers say the government is also worried the events will focus the attention of Megawati loyalists against the government and encourage a popular revival before the presidential elections next March.

Party sources expect there will be more than one-thousand people at the services, which are to include Muslim prayers for those who died in the riots.

Hundreds of football fans who have travelled from East Java for national finals this weekend are also expected to attend the memorials as a mark of solidarity with Ms. Megawati, whose father, first president Sukarno, was born in East Java.