Indonesia's Megawati urges supporters to remain peaceful

Young supporters of Indonesian Vice President Megawati cheer as she arrives for the anniversary celebrations of her political party in Jakarta

In this story: Security tight in capital Wahid faces grueling week Megawati also faces criticism RELATED STORIES, SITES

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) -- Indonesian Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri on Sunday urged tens of thousands of supporters not to resort to violence at expected protests in the capital this week.

INTERACTIVE MAP Fragile Archipelago -- a look at conflict areas in Indonesia and environs

"As a nation, we have become easily spooked that tomorrow there will be violence ... So I order you all to halt the violence," she told a raucous crowd which had gathered to celebrate her Indonesian Democratic Party's 28th anniversary.

In a sign of mutual support ahead of the expected protests, President Abdurrahman Wahid attended the celebrations, praising his colleague and her party.

"I do hope PDI-P (Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle) can achieve more glory under the leadership of Megawati Sukarnoputri as a continuation of the struggle initiated by (founding president and her father) Sukarno who we all adore," Wahid told the crowd.

And Megawati's support of Wahid on Sunday will be critical for the embattled leader who has come under increasing pressure to resign in recent months for failing to pull the nation out of crisis.

Security tight in capital

Earlier, convoys of buses and cars flying the trademark red flag of the nation's biggest party jammed the main thoroughfares leading to the Senayan stadium in south Jakarta.

Security was stepped up in the capital for the celebrations but also ahead of the protests, expected to take place on Monday when Indonesia's feisty parliament resumes.

"We have prepared troops to back up the police. We are ready to move on their call," military spokesman Graito Usodo told Reuters.

Usodo said around 1,000 troops were on alert in the capital for the anticipated unrest. The threat of violence has unnerved Indonesia's frail financial markets, which fear an outbreak of bloodshed.

"We have three battalions ready, so people should not be worried about security. I personally hope nothing will happen, but we have adequate personnel and equipment on guard."

Wahid faces grueling week

Wahid, who has played down fears of violence, will be in neighboring Singapore on Monday to mark the start of the first imports of natural gas to the island state.

He faces a grueling week, not least an investigation into two financial scandals linked to the presidential palace. The frail Muslim leader faces impeachment if the probe concludes he was criminally involved.

It has been a constant battle for the nearly blind president to defend his leadership amid growing concerns about the country's stability and painfully slow economic recovery.

Megawati also faces criticism

Megawati, despite her mass following, has also faced criticism, mainly over her silence on key policy issues. Many attribute her silence to incompetence.

She was elected Indonesia's vice president a day after she was narrowly defeated in a vote for the presidency in October 1999.

Megawati's party is the largest in parliament.

The Indonesian Democratic Party was the smallest of three political parties allowed under former President Suharto's army-backed regime.

Megawati set up her PDI Struggle (PDI-P) party, founded on a splinter group from the original PDI, when Suharto's hand-picked successor, B.J. Habibie, allowed new parties under reforms pressed on him by public demand.

She was elected leader for a five-year term in 1993 but was ousted in a government-backed party coup in 1996.

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