Palu – A rally by hundreds of students opposing possible US-led military action in Iraq here on Tuesday ended with them illegally barricading an outlet of the US-based Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast-food restaurant chain.

Antara reported that the temporary action was taken by students from the State Institute for Islamic Studies (STIAN) in Datokarama, who pasted a placard reading: "This is a US product, it must be boycotted" on the outlet's front door.

They intimidated and frightened the customers who promptly left. Meanwhile, other customers apparently decided not to enter the restaurant for fear of a backlash from the demonstrators.

In his speech, chairman of the STIAN student association Erwin Samangka claimed, "that a US-led attack on Iraq would be a stark act of terrorism and the most blatant human rights violation of the century." "As such, civilized countries all over the world should oppose it," Erwin said, adding that one of the forms of opposition people could adopt was a total boycott of all US products, coupled with the freezing of US assets in Indonesia.

After threatening and illegally closing the KFC outlet, the anti-US students marched to the Central Sulawesi gubernatorial office, demanding that the regional administration freeze all US assets in the province.

No arrests were made and the police were unavailable for comment, despite earlier assurances from Cabinet ministers and the National Police chief that all foreign assets would be safeguarded.