Military

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN

DATELINE=JAKARTA

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: In Indonesia, a group of roughly 200 Muslim militants has searched hotels for U-S citizens in order to force them to leave the country. They found none, but as Patricia Nunan reports from Jakarta, the incident comes amid growing resentment against Americans, caused in part by recent developments in the Middle East.

Text: The group of Muslim militants went to at least three hotels in the central Javanese city of Solo, searching for Americans. Staff at the Novotel Hotel in Solo allowed the militants to check the hotel guest list - but security guards then persuaded the group to leave.

At another hotel, the group handed out leaflets demanding all Americans leave Indonesia immediately or else face "consequences". What those consequences might be was not explained.

One of the group's leaders says the United States has been interfering in Indonesia's internal affairs, and trying to create unrest in the country.

Police in Solo have not commented on the incident. But there are no reports of any violence nor of the group coming into direct

contact with U-S citizens.

The incident in Solo, 430 kilometers southeast of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, is the latest in a series of anti-American protests and rallies.

///SFX OF ANTI-US RALLY, THEN UNDER TO...///

About 400 protesters gathered outside the U-S embassy Wednesday - the day the facility was shut down to the public because of what embassy officials described as a "credible threat" of attack.

It was one of dozens of anti-American protests that have taken place since the eruption of violence in the Middle East, in which more than 100 people - most of them Palestinians - have died in clashes with the Israeli military.

The majority of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslim - and sympathize with the Palestinian cause. The government has never officially recognized Israel.

One protester says it is not fair that the United States should support Israel over the Palestinians.

///PROTESTOR ACT///

They should do the best for everyone - not just Israel - for everyone in the world because they have the

power to do that."

///END ACT///

The U-S Ambassador to Indonesia, Robert Gelbard, has also been at the center of controversy in recent weeks.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab says that death threats have been made against Ambassador Gelbard - who has a reputation in Jakarta for a somewhat abrasive approach to diplomacy.

Indonesia's Defense Minister Mohammed Mahfud criticized Mr. Gelbard for what he described as efforts to influence the

appointment of a top military leader. He also said the ambassador interfered with the deportation of a U-S citizen from Indonesia, who had been accused of spying.

U-S Embassy officials said they were "dismayed and perplexed" by what they described as the "false charges" by the defense minister.

In the midst of the diplomatic storm, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid reiterated his commitment to strong relations with the United States. (Signed)

NEB/PN/PFH