Police fired blank ammunition, tear gas and water cannons on Wednesday to stop a brawl between about 300 student protesters demanding the dissolution of the former ruling Golkar Party and dozens of thugs loyal to the party.

Detikcom online news agency said the students from the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) had gathered outside Golkar's Jakarta branch office on Jalan Pegangsaan to demand the abolition of the party. The demonstration turned violent in the afternoon when some of the students began scuffling with Golkar supporters, who were described as thugs.

Reuters reported that stones and molotov cocktails were thrown and several protesters were injured. Police intervened at 5.45pm, firing tear gas, blank bullets and spraying the mob with water.

Golkar, the second largest party in parliament, was the notoriously corrupt political vehicle of former president Suharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for 32 years.

These days Golkar remains mired in corruption, but has become President Megawati Sukarnoputri's main coalition partner. Courts have refused to dissolve Golkar even though it cheated in past elections.