Indonesia protesters slam Israeli military strikes

JAKARTA, July 16 (Reuters) Thousands of Muslim protesters flooded the main streets of the Indonesian capital today, condemning recent Israeli attacks on the Palestinian territories and Lebanon that have killed scores of civilians.

The government of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has called on Israel to stop the strikes and urged the disputing parties to get back to the negotiating table.

Around 6,000 supporters of the Muslim-oriented Prosperous Justice party (PKS), chanted ''Allahu Akbar'' (God is greatest) and waved Palestinian, Lebanese and Indonesian flags as they marched around a central Jakarta roundabout, where loud speakers blared out anti-Israel songs.

''A few troops are captured and Israel goes on killing so many innocent civilians, bombing cities and destroying public facilities from power to waterworks. How can we not show our care about this,'' said protester Soni Suardi standing beside his 11-month son's carriage decked with small Palestinian flags.

''The Arab states must rise and stop sitting silent when their neighbours are being annihilated. Are there no more men in that region who dare to stand up against Israel?,'' he told Reuters.

Israel pounded Beirut's southern suburb today, the fifth successive day of an offensive on Lebanon, with no sign that its attacks on the Hizbollah guerrilla group and civilian installations were near an end.

At least 104 people, all but four of them civilians, have been killed in the five-day assault, which has choked Lebanon's economy and forced tourists and foreigners to flee.

Four Israelis have been killed and 300 wounded by hundreds of rockets fired since Wednesday by Hizbollah supporters.

The attacks started after Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border operation on Wednesday.

Indonesia, 85 per cent of whose 220 million people are Muslims, cooperates closely with Washington in anti-terror efforts in Southeast Asia, but is a strong critic of much of its West Asia policy.

Indonesia has no diplomatic relations with Israel, while it recognises the Palestinian territories government as independent and the latter has an embassy in Jakarta.

Reuters SY VP1002