Jakarta – Thousands of people prayed for peace Sunday at a rally in Indonesia's capital and called on the country to avoid violence as it struggles through an economic crisis.

Meanwhile, in the territory of East Timor, pro-independence protesters drove dozens of cars and motorcycles toward the governor's compound to demand he step down. They were turned away by police, and no violence was reported.

At the Jakarta rally, Muhammad Iqbal Assegaf, a student leader of the nation's largest Muslim group, urged rebels in East Timor not to split Indonesia apart, and said rival political parties shouldn't resort to bloodshed.

In May, widespread rioting broke out in this Southeast Asian nation of 202 million people, leaving about 1,200 dead, and forcing longtime President Suharto to quit. Suharto's successor and longtime ally, President B.J. Habibie, also has been targeted by protests. The crowd of between 5,000 and 10,000 cheered and danced during speeches and musical performances, but when military chief Gen. Wiranto – one of the few well-known public figures to attend the rally – spoke, the crowd chanted, "We need more food!"

In Dili, the capital of East Timor, protesters jumped aboard more than 60 cars and motorcycles after celebrating Mass. The protesters carried posters of jailed East Timor rebel leader Jose Alexandre Xanana Gusmao, and yelled, "We want independence!" When security forces blocked the main entrance to the governor's compound, the protesters retreated, vowing to return Monday to stage another demonstration.