Jakarta – Indonesian police who rushed to their commander's home to protect him from arrest pulled back overnight after President Abdurrahman Wahid appeared to back down.

Only a handful of police guarded General Bimantoro's houses in Jakarta and the city of Surabaya on Friday, saying they were part of the normal guard always stationed outside his homes. "There are no special security measures, I've been guarding this house for years. It's normal," one policeman told Reuters outside Bimantoro's official residence in Jakarta.

On Thursday, two police tanks and almost 100 men brandishing automatic weapons rallied at Bimantoro's Jakarta home after Wahid, struggling to hold on to power, ordered his arrest for refusing a presidential order to quit.

Wahid backs down

But cabinet secretary Marzuki Darusman told reporters at a hastily called late night news conference no arrest order had been given, although Wahid wanted Bimantoro arrested.

Senior military and police officers, including Bimantoro, have publicly opposed Wahid's threat to declare a state of emergency to stave off impeachment moves. Senior generals supported Bimantoro in his showdown with Wahid but middle-ranking officers sided with Wahid, raising fears of violence between rival police groups.

Bimantoro, believed to be in Singapore for medical checks, told the Media Indonesia daily he had done nothing wrong and was ready to resign if Wahid followed correct procedures, including securing parliament's approval.

Parliament has so far rejected the sacking. "I'm willing to account for my actions and those of my men in the field at any time to the President," Media Indonesia quoted Bimantoro as saying.

Wahid has given his enemies until next Friday to back off from their push to oust him, or he will declare a state of emergency and call fresh elections. But it is unlikely he has enough support in the security forces or the civil service to carry out his threat.

Indonesia's supreme People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is due to meet from August 1 to consider impeaching Wahid over his chaotic 20 month rule. But after Thursday's move, MPR chief Amien Rais said political leaders would hold an emergency meeting to consider bringing forward the special session.

Now almost completely isolated, Wahid is virtually certain to be dumped and replaced by his popular but estranged vice president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, who would serve out his five-year term to 2004.

Compromise unlikely

Megawati, who has increasingly distanced herself from her one-time close friend and mentor, on Thursday made her strongest attack yet in a move that makes a face-saving compromise unlikely. Asked about the chances of a deal, Megawati was quoted as saying she found it tough to work with the erratic Wahid.

Wahid, who insisted he still has the military's support, told CNN on Thursday he would carry out his threat if his enemies did not abandon their efforts to oust him. "Yes, I will declare a state of emergency," he said, adding he would run again. "Among the people, I am still popular."