Surabaya – Nahdlatul Ulama head Hasyim Muzadi has stared down an attack by a rival faction, winning re-election as the chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic grassroots organisation for another five years.

Mr Hasyim and NU lawmaking body chief Sahal Mahfudz staved off the persistent efforts of former president Abdurrahman Wahid, who had tried to rally support from senior clerics to dethrone Mr Hasyim.

Mr Abdurrahman, known popularly as Gus Dur, chaired the 40 million-member organisation for 15 years before being elected Indonesian president in 1999. Mr Sahal, a charismatic cleric who also leads the Indonesian Ulema Council, was on Thursday re-elected unanimously as the NU's powerful syuriah (lawmaking body) chairman, while Mr Hasyim saw off a light challenge from young figure F. Masdar Mas'udi in the run-off.

The decision to re-elect Mr Sahal came after he emerged as the sole candidate to qualify for the run-off. A candidate in each election required 99 votes to reach the run-off. A speechless Mr Abdurrahman left the venue shortly after seeing his defeat at the hands of Mr Sahal in the first round of elections.

The victories of Mr Sahal and Mr Hasyim had been widely predicted by many at the congress, despite Mr Abdurrahman's resistance.

The former president had threatened repeatedly to set up a splinter faction of the organisation if Mr Hasyim was re-elected.

Mr Hasyim appealed to the partymen to end the bickering, saying he would meet Mr Abdurrahman and other senior clerics opposed to his win and ask them to cancel their plans to establish a rival NU faction. His words seemed to have had the desired effect. Several senior pro-Abdurrahman clerics later issued a statement saying they would not support any moves to set up a breakaway organisation.

Mr Hasyim contested Indonesia's first presidential election as the running mate to incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri. They lost to Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Mr Jusuf Kalla in the September 20 run-off.

The five-day congress was closed by Mr Jusuf.