Jakarta – A senior Indonesian military commander yesterday urged troops to remain loyal to the nation and not to any individual after generals warned President Abdurrahman Wahid not to dissolve parliament or declare a state of emergency.

Lt-General Ryamizard Ryacudu, who commands the 30,000-strong Kostrad strategic reserve, also appealed to Mr Abdurrahman not to sack the army's hardline chief of staff, General Endriartono Sutarto, a vocal critic of the President.

"We call the soldiers to be loyal to the unitary state of ... Indonesia and not to any individual or any groups," Lt-Gen Ryacudu said. He also stressed that the military remained loyal to both the President and his deputy. Speaking to about 1,000 troops at their headquarters in Jakarta, Lt-Gen Ryacudu said: "I stress here, there will be no coup against the country or the President by the army."

His comments came a day after Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri held an emergency meeting with top generals after reports that Mr Abdurrahman planned to replace military commanders, disband parliament and declare martial law. Although the President has vehemently denied such plans, one of his spokesmen yesterday confirmed that the embattled leader had discussed such actions.