Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri was installed Monday as Indonesia's fifth president by a special session of Parliament which dismissed her scandal-tainted predecessor Abdurrahman Wahid.
In a unanimous vote, televised nationally, the 54-year-old daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno took over from Wahid, a 60-year-old Muslim cleric whose 21-month rule was marred by charges of graft and inept rule.
Delegates rose to their feet and shouted "Allah is Great" after Megawati's rise to the presidency was formally proclaimed by national assembly chairman Amien Rais.
Megawati herself was not present during the vote in the MPR, the upper house of Parliament.
The new leader's husband Taufik Keimas, an MP from her Indonesian Democracy Party of Struggle (PDIP), was seen weeping as the house members prayed following the historic session.
Minutes later, dressed in pale mauve, Megawati, herself holding back tears, entered the chamber and moved to the presidential chair where she stood for the playing of the national anthem.
Outside the Parliament, an AFP photographer saw scores of buses crammed with pro-Wahid protestors heading for the legislative complex.
Police, who had vowed to defend the session, formed ranks outside the front gates.
Wahid remained in the Merdeka presidential palace through the parliamentary session and aides said he vowed to dig in -- JAKARTA (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
