JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia's national assembly planned to convene impeachment proceedings against President Abdurrahman Wahid on Saturday, its chairman announced today.
The decision came after Assembly Chairman Amien Rais, Wahid's harshest critic, accused the president of abusing the constitution and urged the assembly to initiate his ouster this weekend.
Wahid, elected in October 1999 after Indonesia's first democratic elections in more than four decades, faces impeachment over allegations of incompetence and corruption.
The president has denied the charges, describing them as politically motivated. Prosecutors have found no evidence of criminality against him.
Rais said Wahid would be asked to deliver an accountability speech on Monday to address allegations of corruption, incompetence and constitutional violations.
Originally, the assembly had been scheduled to begin impeachment proceedings against Wahid on Aug. 1. But leaders of the main factions within Indonesia's highest legislative body met Friday night and decided to bring it forward to Saturday.
The decision follows Wahid's threats to declare a state of emergency and close down the assembly on July 31.