Vaudine England, Jakarta – Protests against President Abdurrahman Wahid's policies – particularly his perceived openness to communism – escalated yesterday with thousands of Islamic protesters gathering outside the presidential palace and around Jakarta's central Welcome Monument.

Threatening crowds of about 5,000 shouted "God is Great" as a lone demonstrator climbed to the top of the city's central monument, where he hurled an Israeli flag into the fountain below, and burned a large red-and-gold flag of the banned Indonesian Communist Party. It was Jakarta's biggest demonstration since October, when Mr Wahid was elected.

Banners draped around the monument, some held by young women in Islamic head scarves, read: "Forgiving communists means butchering Muslims", "Say no to communism and Zionism" and "Gus Dur [Mr Wahid], who are you actually?"

A decree passed by former president Suharto in 1967 banned the study of communism, Marxism and Leninism following an allegedly communist-backed coup attempt in 1965. Mr Wahid, in line with his desire to open up Indonesian society, has called for the decree's abolition and a normalisation of relations with Israel, starting with a trade agreement.

Opposition to Mr Wahid's calls appear to be crystallising deep divisions in politics. Among those lined up against the moves are the chairman of the highest constitutional body, the People's Consultative Assembly, Amien Rais, and Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

At the same time, reports have emerged that former Lieutenant- General Prabowo Subianto, who is accused of fomenting the unrest that brought down Mr Suharto in May 1998, is back in Indonesia. The former chief of the army's Strategic Army Reserve (Kostrad) met Mr Rais on Thursday in Solo, central Java, according to a report in the Indonesian Observer newspaper.

Also at the one-hour meeting were Ahmad Sumargono, co-chairman of the Islamist Crescent Star Party and fellow Islamic activist Fadli Zon. According to the report, Mr Rais commented that "the Government is yet to achieve good performance in both the security aspect and the economic sector".