Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – Cracks have appeared in President Abdurrahman Wahid's Cabinet, as his firing yesterday of an outspoken minister led other parties to call on their ministers to resign.

Justice Minister Yusril Mahendra, who on Saturday asked the President to step down, told reporters after being summoned to the palace: "Wahid said that I am not loyal to the government. 'So I replace you'."

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, who leads the National Mandate Party (PAN), immediately called on his two party members in the Cabinet to also resign or leave his party. The Cabinet was "like a sinking ship, so it's better for you to leave it", he told the two, PAN sources said.

Another two ministers from the Islamic coalition at the forefront of an early impeachment drive are also understood to be under similar pressure to quit.

Including Mr Yusril, the leader of a small rightwing Islamic party, Mr Abdurrahman put five members of the Islamic coalition in his 26-member Cabinet last November. If the remaining four quit now, "it will be the beginning of the end of the government", said political analyst Andi Mallarangeng.