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Some American Diplomats Prepare to Leave Indonesia
As the waves of protests against the United States plan to attack Afghanistan have continued to reverberate across Indonesia, some American diplomats prepare to leave the world's most populous Muslim country.
"The Department of State has authorized the voluntary departure of all U.S. government personnel in non-emergency positions and family members in Indonesia," said an embassy press release published here Thursday.
However U.S. diplomats in Jakarta did not elaborate and declined to say how many would leave.
During the past week, there have been daily demonstrations by some Muslim organizations in front of the embassy here as well as other major cities in protest over possible military action against Afghanistan.
Jakarta police tightened security at the U.S. embassy where demonstrations have taken place every day so far this week.
On Thursday, more than 1,000 protesters rallied outside the U.S. embassy. They chanted "Go to hell America" and "the U.S. government supports terrorism".
Muslim students and activists also staged demonstrations in Surabaya (capital of East Java), Bandung (capital of West Java), Banjarmasin (capital of South Kalimantan), Central Java town of Purwokerto and other cities.
The Indonesian Ulemas Council and 32 Islamic organizations Tuesday condemned the terrorist attacks on the U.S. and called on Muslims to prepare for a jihad (holy war) should the U.S. and its allies attack Afghanistan to pursue Osama bin Laden, a prime suspect in the September 11 tragedy that claimed over 6,000 lives.
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