Tens of thousands of Indonesians, many carrying children, jammed the streets of central Jakarta yesterday, shouting anti-American slogans as they marched toward the US embassy to protest at the war in Iraq.
In the biggest street protest in the world's most populous Muslim nation since the invasion began, demonstrators screamed "America, America: terrorist, terrorist" as they brought traffic to a complete halt on Jakarta's main 10-lane avenue.
By late morning, witnesses said, the crowd had swollen to at least 100,000, with the numbers still growing. Organisers said the turnout had already hit a quarter-million.
While most demonstrators were Muslims, they were joined by Christians carrying banners quoting Pope John Paul and by ethnic Chinese carrying big-character peace slogans.
Hundreds of police formed a cordon in front of the heavily fortified US mission. Elsewhere along the route there was a heavy police presence, but the atmosphere was relaxed, with few officers carrying riot shields or AK47 weapons.
Mr Joko Amardi (30) said he had brought his one-year-old daughter along so that she could share Muslim solidarity for Iraq's people.
"This is a good lesson for her, even though she doesn't understand," Mr Amardi said as his daughter, wearing a pink veil on her head, waved a small banner that read "Iraq, Why, Why".
There have been protests daily across Indonesia since the war began, although most have been fairly small and peaceful.
The Indonesian government and public have generally been at one in opposing the use of force to disarm Iraq.
Indonesia has been an ally of Washington in the US-led war on terror, especially after last year's bombings on the tourist island of Bali, which killed 202 people, mainly foreigners.
Political analysts say a long war may test that co-operation. - (Reuters)