JAKARTA, July 20 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid is to be impeached on Saturday after the People's Consultative Assembly, or Parliament (MPR), decided late Friday to move up an already scheduled special session on the issue.
After deliberations lasting over a few hours Friday evening, the MPR, headed by Amien Rais, its speaker and leader of the National Mandate Party (PAN), announced that Wahid has been given until Monday to deliver an accountability speech.
Failing which he will be officially removed as President when the MPR votes to terminate the contract issued to him in 1999.
The special session, scheduled for August 1st, was brought forward after Wahid gave indications he would retract from several threats to issue a civil emergency decree.
In addition, Wahid's attempt to nominate a new police chief with the support of the House of Representatives (DPR) prompted Rais to pre-empt the ailing president.
Rais said Wahid would be asked to deliver an accountability speech Monday to address allegations of corruption, incompetence and constitutional violations.
Informed sources in Jakarta revealed that Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri would be nominated President and that Hamzah Haz, chairman of the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP), will second her in the post of vice president.
There has been no reaction from the embattled president accused of corruption in two serious cases, Bruneigate and Bulogate, both of which involve several million dollars.
Wahid has been in the post for a period of less than two years, and has been criticized as erratic in his performance as President.
