The Indonesian armed forces on Sunday staged a show of might through Jakarta following two bomb blasts on the eve of a parliamentary session likely to impeach President Abdurrahman Wahid.
The convoy of tanks and armored vehicles gathered opposite the presidential palace, where one officer said the operation was aimed at "safeguarding the special session of the MPR".
On Monday the MPR -- parliament's upper house -- begins the special session that seems almost certain to remove Wahid.
A convoy of 23 Scorpion tanks and armored vehicles, followed by trucks packed with marines, rolled past the Saint Carolus Catholic hospital. an AFP photographer witnessed.
The hospital is treating a majority of the 58 victims of the bombs, both of which exploded in churches within Jakarta military compounds.
The convoy headed towards the central Monas Square, facing the Merdeka Palace, where they joined 26 more armored vehicles waiting in the center of the square.
Around 20 of the armored vehicles, from the army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad), had their cannons facing towards the palace.
A convoy of a further 11 marine armored cars also arrived shortly before 4:00 PM (0900 GMT).
An officer questioned by an AFP reporter called the movement a "roll call" which he said was scheduled to start at 5:00 PM (1000 GMT), and was organized by Kostrad, whose headquarters also face the Monas square.
"The roll call is to be held within the framework of safeguarding the special session of the MPR and to back up the police," the soldier, a Kostrad colonel carrying a name tag identifying him as Koes, said.
Koes said the roll call would be led by Kostrad Commander Lieutenant General Ryamizar Ryacudu.
Kostrad spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Handoko could not be reached for confirmation, but was quoted by the Detikcom website as confirming the roll call was scheduled to start at 5:00 PM.
Handoko said it would also be attended by marines and the airforce's special force Paskha outfit.
The MPR is due to demand Wahid account for his rule on Monday. A rejection would mean an end to the rule of the country's first freely-elected president.
Wahid has labeled the special session "illegal" and "unconstitutional" and said he had no intention to appear or justify his actions -- JAKARTA (AFP)
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