Embattled Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid reshuffled his cabinet Friday, sacking four top officials including his chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Wahid, who is seeking to stave off potential impeachment by parliament at a session called for August 1, also tried getting rid of the national police chief, but he refused to resign.
Yudhyono, a retired army general, was fired as security minister, as was Attorney General Marzuki Darusman.
"These changes are intended to improve the effectiveness and coordination of the running of the government," presidential spokesman Yahya Staquf said in a televised announcement.
"The president is not resigning," he added.
Police chief General Suroyo Bimantoro revealed in a press conference at police headquarters that Wahid had asked him to resign, "due to pressure from several non-government organizations and community groups."
But Bimantoro refused, saying his dismissal and replacement required the approval of the parliament.
"If the president wants to transfer my duties to my deputy, or to another person or group, please go ahead," he was shown saying on SCTV television.
"But so long as there is no formal change of police chief in accordance with procedure, I will continue to carry out my duties as chief of police of the Republic of Indonesia."
Transportation Minister Agum Gumelar, also a retired general, was named to replace Yudhoyono as security minister and Justice Minister Baharuddin Lopa to replace Darusman as attorney general.
Cabinet secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak, a Wahid loyalist, replaced Lopa as justice minister and Budi Mulyawan replaced Gumelar as transportation minister.
Fisheries Minister Sarwono Kusumaatmaja was replaced by an official of his department, Rochimin Dahuri.
The former head of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, Cacuk Sudaryanto was fired from the economics portfolio of acceleration of economic restructuring. No replacement was named.
Security Minister Yudhoyono personally announced his firing by Wahid.
"This morning at 10:00 the president decided to terminate me, and to replace me with Transportation Minister Agum Gumelar," Yudhoyono said at a press conference in his office. "I am loyal to the president, and I will accept this decision."
"I was told that he will replace the chief of the police and so far I have no information whether he will also replace the TNI (military) chief and other senior leaders in the military," he added.
Yudhoyono has been outspoken in warning Wahid against declaring a state of emergency, which would allow him to dissolve parliament.
He said so far there was no sign Wahid was on the verge of carrying out his threat.
"I don't know what's in the mind of the president, but as far as I know, up to the present time there is no indication that he will impose martial law status."
Yudhoyono said Wahid had been under "enormous pressure from outside to replace me as coordinating minister of political, social and security affairs."
The ex-general said Wahid had offered him the home affairs portfolio and then the transportation portfolio. Yudhoyono refused the offers -- JAKARTA (AFP)
Yudhoyono said Gumelar's appointment to the top security post would improve the relationship between Wahid and his deputy, Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
An opposition politician told AFP he saw the firings as an "act of desperation" by Wahid.
"We believe this is not effective," said Pramono Anung, deputy secretary general of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).
Anung said the sacking would not enable Wahid to carry out his threat of declaring martial law or civil emergency.
"We believe he still cannot impose a state of emergency," he said -- JAKARTA (AFP)
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