Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – In a rare loss of self-control, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono vented his anger Friday at a group of protesters rallying outside of the State Palace, saying they were disturbing a Cabinet meeting he was chairing.

"We are just about to start the meeting, but the rally is there now. We cannot work. Are they allowed to turn up that loudspeaker to such a volume? As if this is the only country in the world where everybody can do anything they like," Yudhoyono said in a high tone.

Among those attending the meeting were National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Djoko Santoso and Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto.

"Who should be responsible for handling this (the demonstration)?" the President asked his Cabinet to no reply. "If no one can cope with this, all of them (demonstrators) will enter the palace," he said.

The President said a mechanism was necessary to prevent members of the public from rallying outside the palace to protest any government policy. Last week, the President appeased representatives of the Sidoarjo mud victims at the palace.

It was unclear how the Cabinet members reacted to the President's ire, as the sole cameraman tasked with filming the meeting was quickly ushered out of the room following the outburst.

When asked shortly after the meeting whether the police would adopt stricter measures against demonstrators, police chief Bambang said yes. "Yes, we will take tough measures against any protester who violates the regulations," Bambang said.

To prevent rallies from becoming chaotic, Bambang said the National Police had enforced a regulation from a 1998 law on freedom of expression in public spaces.

The law states that individuals or groups intending to hold a rally must notify the police in advance of the time, participants and aim of the demonstration. Under Soeharto's rule, a police permit was required to stage a demonstration.