Jakarta – Some 10,000 supporters of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid occupied on Wednesday the office of Situbondo local administration in East Java, paralyzing government activities in the coastal town.

The crowds occupied both the Situbondo regency legislative council building and the regency administration office. The buildings' "seizure" was even acknowledged by both Situbondo regency legislative speaker Aqiq Zaman and Situbondo regent Moh. Diaman, Antara reported.

Coordinator of the move, Rusdi Romli said that the seizure of the buildings "was a manifestation of the total rejection by Situbondo people toward the House's first and second memorandum against President Abdurrahman and a strong objection against thespecial session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)".

Protest' leaders said that they would leave the administration buildings and resume normal activities if there was a guarantee from the political elite in Jakarta that Abdurrahman would stay in power until 2004. "With this seizure ... all the properties here from the regency to the village levels will belong to the Situbondo people," Rusdi said.

The protesters unfurled a banner which read: "This property belongs to the people. Guarantee there will be no special session". The crowds also burned down a security post belonging to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) on Jl. Basuki Rahmat while police and marine officers looked on.