Leaders of 18 political parties that the General Elections Commission (KPU) declared unqualified to contest the 2014 poll came to the KPU office in Jakarta on Wednesday protesting the decision.

They wanted to meet the KPU leaders, who were unavailable as they were visiting regions as part of the factual verification process.

Antara news agency reported that some of the protesters were political party chairpersons, including Daniel Hutapea, chairman of the Indonesian Employees and Businesspersons Party (PPPI) and Sonny Pudjisasono, chairman of the Labor Party.

The KPU announced on Sunday that 16 political parties had passed the administrative verification and progress to the final stage.