Clashes broke out Thursday evening between pro- and anti-Suharto supporters near the former dictator's residence after a court dismissed corruption charges against the former dictator.
The clashes occurred as some 300 students gathered a block away from a roundabout where a wall of riot police stood blocking the entrance to Cendana street where Suharto lives, witnesses said.
Dozens of plain-clothes police mingled with crowds of passers-by, as the pro-Suharto group, who had arrived on buses armed with bamboo poles, chased the students.
Earlier, police fired into the air as the students -- who were in the vanguard of the protests that forced Suharto to step down in 1998 -- took to the streets angered by the verdict.
The gunfire took place in the Pasar Minggu area of Jakarta, some 12 kilometers (seven miles) south of Suharto's plush downtown residence, photographers said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties after the police firing, but an AFP photographer said the students had burned a police motorcycle.
The students had told reporters they were on their way to Suharto's home after the court's decision not to pursue charges of massive corruption during his 32-year rule.
Earlier Thursday police fired teargas and plastic bullets at hundreds of anti-Suharto students throwing stones and fuel bombs outside the South Jakarta venue of the trial.
The clashes, which took place some 50 meters (yards) from the court, left at least five students injured, witnesses said. Another 20 were arrested.
Ambulances rushed to the site through the pouring rain.
Ten minutes after the first clash, an occasional shot could be heard ringing out through clouds of tear gas as the standoff between some 150 police and 600 students continued.
Earlier in the day, shortly after the trial opened, a mob of civilians set fire to an empty bus that had transported pro-Suharto supporters, and beat up some of the passengers.
The trial, dismissed due to Suharto's ill health opened without the former president -- JAKARTA(AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
