Jakarta - Indonesia's political crisis looked close to spinning out of control yesterday after an increasingly isolated President Wahid, desperate to fend off impeachment, sacked six ministers.
But the police chief, who has openly rejected Mr Wahid's plans to declare a state of emergency, refused an order to resign unless parliament agreed.
Mr Wahid said he had appointed former general Agum Gumelar as the new chief security minister to improve ties with his estranged deputy, Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri. One minister said Gen Gumelar was close to the country's largest party, headed by Ms Megawati. Mr Wahid earlier in the day warned of "firm action" to protect the country.