Jakarta – Over 2,000 Indonesian Moslems gathered at Jakarta's main Istiqlal Mosque here on Wednesday in what they said was a show of support for President B.J. Habibie and his reform programs.

The gathering was jointly organised by the Indonesian Council of Moslem Scholars, the country's highest authority on Islam, and the Moslem Forum of the Upholders of Justice and the Constitution (Furkon). "Furkon judges, observes and studied that the national leadership succession on May 21, 1998 from president H.M. Suharto to Prof. Dr. Ing. Baharuddin Jusuf Habibie is legal and constitutional," said a written statement issued by Furkon.

In the statement, entitled "Statement of Stance of Indonesian Moslems," Furkon claimed to be "a representation of Indonesian Moslems" and expressed support for the political agenda set up by the government of Habibie.

Furkon also firmly rejected any move to set up a transitional authority to take over power from Habibie in line with scores of student demonstrations in recent weeks. The gathering heard a sermon by popular Moslem preacher Zaenuddin M.Z and ended their a three-hour rally with noon prayers.