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Indonesians burn flags outside U.S. Embassy©New York Times
© St. Petersburg Times, JAKARTA, Indonesia -- With hundreds of protesters burning U.S. flags outside the gates of the U.S. Embassy and with extremist groups threatening to kill Americans, the State Department said Thursday that most of the embassy staff could leave the country if they chose. On Wednesday, the State Department warned Americans to stay away from Indonesia, saying the attacks in the United States had raised security concerns here significantly. "Extremist elements may be planning to target United States interests in Indonesia," it said. Despite the government's stated support for the United States after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, extremist Islamic groups have staged demonstrations in several cities and have vowed to take revenge if the United States attacks a Muslim nation. The groups represent a small minority in this mostly Muslim country of 210-million people, where the practice of Islam is largely tolerant and moderate. But they have made their presence felt in recent years with bombings, vandalism and threats. Last week, President Megawati Sukarnoputri affirmed in a meeting with President Bush in Washington that Indonesia joins America in opposing terrorist attacks, though she stopped short of pledging support for retaliation. "We share this moment of grief with you," she said. Small demonstrations had already begun, almost daily, outside the fortified U.S. Embassy, set far back from the street behind a high iron fence near government buildings in central Jakarta. The rally at the embassy on Thursday was the biggest so far, with raised fists and chants of "Go to hell America" and "The United States government supports terrorism." There were cheers when an effigy of President Bush was set on fire. U.S. Ambassador Robert Gelbard criticized Indonesia's security forces Thursday for not moving against extremists who have openly threatened to attack the embassy and kill Americans, including himself. Some diplomats were reported to be preparing to leave.
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From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
