Both moderate and radical Indonesian Islamic leaders reacted angrily to the start of the US-led war on Iraq as police stepped up security in the world's largest Muslim-populated nation.
Outside the heavily-guarded US embassy in Jakarta an estimated 600 protesters carried signs reading "Bush, go to hell" and "Terrorism No, Justice Yes." Protests were also held in six other cities although there were no reports of major violence.
Syafii Ma'arif, the chairman of the second largest mainstream Muslim group Muhammadiyah, condemned what he called "a savage war." "I am not a defender of Saddam Hussein but I strongly wonder what right does Bush have to expel a man from his own country?" Ma'arif said.
Ma'arif, whose group claims a membership of 30 million, described President George W. Bush as "a paranoid leader." Solahuddin Wahid, deputy chairman of the largest mainstream Islamic group Nahdlatul Ulama, accused the US of "an international crime" but appealed to Indonesians to stay calm.
"There should be no US citizens or other foreigners in Indonesia harmed," Wahid told AFP.
The cabinet was holding a special meeting and was to issue a statement later.
The government has previously condemned any unilateral attack and called for diplomacy to be given more time. But ministers have said they do not see an attack on Iraq as an attack on Muslims. The Hizbut Tahrir radical Muslim group disagreed. In a statement it said the US has declared war against Muslims worldwide.
Hizbut Tahrir called on Muslims across the world to launch a jihad (holy war or struggle) to "defend the dignity of a Muslim country and its people." It said the "real evil intention of the United States ... is to control the Iraqi oilfields and spread its economic and political dominance in that region." Hizbut Tahrir spokesman Muhammad Ismail Yusanto said the attack showed the world who the real terrorist was.
"We call on all countries and their leaders to declare Bush as a terrorist and as a war criminal," he said.
Police have stepped up security at the embassies of the United States and its allies as well as at shopping malls and other locations.
At the US embassy many women in Islamic headscarves, some carrying small children, were among the protesters. "God is Great" and "America is terrorist," they shouted. About 100 police guarded the mission.
The British embassy warned late Wednesday that terrorists may take advantage of the attack on Iraq to attack Western interests in Indonesia. Bombings in Bali last October which were blamed on regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 people, mostly foreigners.
The embassy advised the estimated 4,000 Britons in the country to consider leaving or exercise extreme caution. "It is likely that extremists will harass Westerners in bars and nightclubs frequented by foreigners. You should avoid these establishments," the embassy said.
An Islamic youth group called Anshor has threatened to force US and allied diplomats to leave Indonesia if war breaks out. It has also threatened to try to close down all American companies operating in the country.
However Anshor's spokesman Munawar Fuad Noeh on Thursday played down the threat of violence, saying its members had been instructed not to break the law.