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CNN Live Event/Special

America Strikes Back: Protesters, Police Clash in Jakarta

Aired October 15, 2001 - 05:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now we're going to go to Atika Shubert. She's in Jakarta, Indonesia.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. There were quite a few anti-U.S. demonstrations there, and police actually got rather violent with these protesters in breaking that up.

Let's get the very latest now -- Atika.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (by telephone): Well, Leon, as you say, it does definitely appear that police are taking a harder line against what have now become nearly daily anti-U.S. protests here.

There were clashes earlier this afternoon between police and some 300 demonstrators from a small but radical group called the Defenders of Islam, and that happened outside the Parliament complex in Jakarta. Police fired warnings shots. They used water cannons and tear gas and finally stormed the crowd. Protesters did fight back by throwing rocks and also attacked a nearby police post.

Now, several people were injured, including some journalists. But in the end, the demonstrations were disbursed, and we now have reports that some of the demonstration leaders have been arrested and are now in custody -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Atika, have there been any other such demonstrations, maybe perhaps not on the same scale, but any others outside of Jakarta?

SHUBERT: There have. In fact, there have been some larger demonstrations in other cities, such as in South Sulawesi, the city of Makassar. There have been some very radical ones there where they threatened a McDonald's and also a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet, as well as the Japanese Consulate.

Over here, other citizens are also under threat, in addition to Americans. Anyone perceived to be an ally of the Americans does come under threat by some of these more radical groups.

However, it has to be remembered that even though there are nearly daily demonstrations, these are small groups. They do not represent the majority of the moderate Muslim community here in Indonesia -- Leon. HARRIS: Atika Shubert reporting live for us from Jakarta -- you be safe, and we'll talk with you later on about these developments there.

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