Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – Some of Jakarta's most influential political leaders are trying to broker a last-minute compromise to save President Abdurrahman Wahid from impeachment.

The deal negotiated during a series of secret meetings is based on an offer Mr Wahid made earlier this year to allow the Vice-President, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri, to run the country while he becomes a figurehead president until elections in 2004.

But sources close to Ms Megawati say she will not consider any compromise unless it is ratified by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), due to convene on August1 to decide Mr Wahid's future. Ms Megawati has yet to indicate publicly whether she is willing to take control while Mr Wahid retains the title of president.

The strongest faction in her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is pressing her to seize the presidency at the special session even at the risk of sparking riots by Mr Wahid's millions of supporters and creating a constitutional crisis should he refuse to accept impeachment.

But the PDI-P treasurer, Ms Noviantika Nasution, said: "The party stand is confirmed that whatever the problem is we are going to solve it in the special session." Among those involved in the compromise negotiations have been the senior security minister, Mr Agum Gumelar, and Cabinet secretary, Mr Marzuki Darusman, a leading member of the second-largest political party, Golkar. Observers say Golkar's leaders are pushing for a deal that would enable them to negotiate positions in Ms Megawati's Cabinet.

However, opposition among MPs to Mr Wahid remaining in office in any form mean chances of a deal are slim. The outcome depends largely on Ms Megawati, whose party controls the largest bloc of votes in the MPR.

While she wants to become president, she is known to be worried that the same MPs who turned against Mr Wahid after supporting his election 20 months ago could turn on her before the next election.

Mr Hamzah Haz, the head of the third-largest political party, the Muslim-based United Development Party, and a favourite to become vice-president if Ms Megawati becomes president, says in the latest edition of Tempo magazine that Mr Wahid had made it plain recently that he would not give the MPR the accountability speech MPs want. "I can't do that. I will oppose this. This is not consistent with the 1945 Constitution," Mr Hamzah quoted Mr Wahid as saying. "I will defend the palace. I will make sacrifices."

Mr Wahid yesterday intensified pressure on Ms Megawati, saying if he was to leave his post, she should also. "If one steps down, the other must step down," he said during a visit to the city of Manado.

Mr Wahid also appeared to back away yesterday from his threat to declare a state of emergency before parliament is dissolved, if a compromise is not reached. "I can use my power as President to do this and that against others, but I will never do it," he said without elaborating.

Last week he threatened to impose a state of emergency at 6pm tomorrow prompting Dr Amien Rais, the MPR speaker, to order all MPs to stay in Jakarta in case it became necessary to call an earlier special session.