Jakarta – More than 100 middle-ranking Indonesian police officers yesterday spoke out against their chief, who has defied his sacking by President Abdurrahman Wahid, accusing him of disobedience.

In a petition issued after a meeting at the national police headquarters, the officers stressed that the Indonesian police were under the ultimate command of the President.

The statement, carried by Detikcom online news, said: "We urge former police chief General Suroyo Bimantoro and high-ranking officers supporting him to cease the sickening disobedience. It is not worthy of praise and could set a bad precedent which is detrimental to the police institution as far as the line of command is concerned."

The officers said support by top police officers for Gen Bimantoro was "authoritarian and not in line with the aspirations of some 200,000 police members". They also urged Parliament to stop using the dismissal as a "political tool" to attack the President and cease recognising Gen Bimantoro as the police chief.

Mr Abdurrahman sought the general's resignation last month and suspended him when he refused. The move incensed a hostile parliament, as it contravened a House law requiring the legislature's approval for appointing and dismissing the police chief.

Gen Bimantoro said last week that he accepted the dismissal, but has refused to hand over his command baton and uniform, until his sacking is approved by parliament.