Protesters clash with police, traffic paralyzed


On the other side of the fence: Protesters prepare to throw rocks at riot police during an anti-government protest against the controversial Bank Century bailout outside the House of Representatives building in Jakarta, on Tuesday. Inside the building, a plenary session on the bailout chaos erupted following heated arguments between legislators after the session was suspended. AP/Achmad Ibrahim

Police use tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters, who pelted stones at the officers in clashes during a rally at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Tuesday, kompas.com reported.

The protesters used a car to drag away the barbed-wire barricades, which were set up by police to block the entrance gate to the House building, blocking the traffic on Jl. Gatot Subroto.

The clash ended after tear gas and water cannon drove protesters away to the nearby Slipi intersection.

Meanwhile, inside the House building a plenary session on the Bank Century bailout inquiry was suspended following the chaos sparked by heated arguments between legislators.

The plenary session was to vote on the inquiry conclusions on Wednesday, but the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Golkar Party demanded the House of Representatives vote on the Bank Century bailout final conclusion on Tuesday.