Jakarta – Some 2,000 supporters of Indonesian opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri swamped a major roundabout in central Jakarta on Wednesday to back her bid to become the country's fourth president.

The supporters were from different groups that began pouring into the roundabout from various directions around noon.

Most chanted "Megawati or Revolution" – a yell that has become increasingly heard in the past few days as supporters of the daughter of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno take to the streets to air their support for Megawati's presidential bid.

The roundabout, lined with hotels, including one were MPs are staying during the current national assembly convention, was packed by ralliers and traffic was reduced to a snail's pace. The ralliers scattered to nearby buildings during a sudden downpour but returned to the roundabout after the rain stopped.

The protestors, who carried portraits of Megawati, then proceeded to the south on a main thoroughfare, yelling pro-Megawati slogans on the way and singing songs derisive of incumbent President B.J. Habibie, one of Megawati's main rivals for the next presidency.

Megawati is one of three candidates in Indonesia's presidential race, which winds up on October 20 when the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) elects the new head of state.

She is running against Habibie and Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid the chairman of the country's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama.

The rallies to support Megawati took place as the country's security leaders and politicians called on the people to refrain from large mass rallies in support of a presidential candidate. They aired concerns that such demonstrations of support could turn violent if two separate groups met.

Police chief General Rusmanhadi on Wednesday appealed to the main contenders to urge their supporters to go home. "To those who are planning to disturb the MPR session, please, cancel your plans," Rusmanhadi said.

"For those planning to come to Jakarta, don't force yourself to come. Let the MPR members voice your aspirations. And to those who are in Jakarta please, go home. I also call on the academics and politicians not to make inflammatory statements."

The police chief said he was preparing 41,513 security personnel to guard the MPR during the plenary session which will elect the president. "This number will be enough to secure the MPR session," Rusmanhadi told a press conference.

Rusmanhadi said there were indications party supporters were flowing into Jakarta from outlying areas such as Central Java and East Java to support their favored presidential candidate. "All we can do is to encourage them not to create a chaotic situation in the capital," Rusmanhadi said.

He said police are already stationed in strategic locations around the city including the central business district, offices, shopping malls and department stores.

He said a clash had nearly occurred at the same roundabout on Tuesday between a rally of supporters of Habibie and those of Megawati.