Jakarta – Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's faction of the conflict-ridden National Awakening Party (PKB) is the legitimate face of the political group, a court here ruled Monday.

In its verdict, the South Jakarta District Court described the rival PKB faction chaired by party leader Choirul Anam as "illegitimate". It also refused to recognize the results of the faction's breakaway national congress in Surabaya last year, which elected Choirul as leader.

The judges ruled that under the PKB's standing orders, a congress must be attended by two-thirds of the party's branch leaders. However, the status of party members that had attended the Surabaya forum was not clear, they said.

The court forbade the Choirul-led faction from using the party's symbols, logo or name in its political activities, head judge Wahjono said.

It also overruled an "illegal" decree issued last year by Justice Minister Hamid Awaluddin that recognized Choirul's leadership.

"The verdict means only our PKB is legitimate," said Zannuba "Yenny" Chafsoh Rahmah, Gus Dur's eldest daughter. Choirul's faction said it would appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court.