Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – One of President Abdurrahman Wahid's brothers has called on him to step down and hand power over to Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri in the best interest of the nation, as thousands of the President's supporters rallied in several cities across Java.

"In such a heated political climate, one must give way and compromise," said Mr Salahuddin Wahid on Sunday, adding that Ms Megawati should be given increased powers.

Mr Salahuddin is the latest in a long list of former supporters and analysts who have withdrawn their support for Mr Abdurrahman.

Calls for the President's resignation have mounted in the last two weeks after the parliament voted unanimously to take steps to impeach the Indonesian leader over two financial scandals.

Last week, a presidential advisory body "consisting of high profile economists, analysts and public figures" also suggested Mr Abdurrahman make an elegant exit and give executive power to Ms Megawati, while he is made symbolic head of state.

Some, like Mr Salahuddin, say it would be better for Mr Abdurrahman to step aside and be nominated as a senior minister, because he has no support from any of the political parties.

Other former supporters, such as prominent economist Dr Syahrir, have become critics of Mr Abdurrahman's failure to stamp out corruption and implement tougher economic reforms.

While the political commentators are calling for Mr Abdurrahman's resignation, there are fears that mass violence would ensue as grass-roots supporters and critics of the President clash.

In the East Java town of Tuban yesterday, 6,000 supporters of Mr Abdurrahman attacked government offices.

Near Yogyakarta, central Java, another 20,000 supporters gathered and threw effigies of Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung and House Speaker Amien Rais – two of Mr Abdurrahman's critics – into a river.

In the nearby town of Magelang, around 5,000 supporters of the President rallied outside a Golkar building and sealed it. And in Jakarta, 1,000 high school students led an anti-Golkar rally at the parliament.

One of his few high profile supporters, Mr Emil Salim, a former adviser, argued that Mr Abdurrahman could survive if he cracked down on corruption and compromised with the Democratic Party – Perjuangan (PDI-P) led by Ms Megawati.

However, few analysts believe the President is capable of either of these. "I don't think someone like him or at his age can change. And if he doesn't change, then it will create more instability and pressure against him will just increase," said a senior editor of the Kompas daily.