Supporters of embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid staged protests in numerous cities in east and central Java and blocked the coastal road in north Java Feb. 12, causing heavy congestion. Many of the protests, which have gone on for more than a week, have been marred by violence. Further demonstrations are likely as the political crisis continues over charges of corruption by the president, who came to power as a compromise candidate in 1999 in the transition to an elected government from the autocratic rule of former President Suharto.
