The protest, which also called for an end to the military's role in politics, came a day after thousands of students gathered outside the parliament building to demand the resignation of President B J Habibie.

The students, under the banner of Indonesian Muslim Students Association (KAMI), demanded an end to the ``Pancasila'' state ideology under which all the country's five major religions are equal.

The government has steadfastly maintained the policy even though over 80 per cent of the country's 200 million population are Muslims.

Wednesday's protest was the largest anti-government protest since Habibie took the presidential post five months ago.

In mid-May, a wave of student protests brought down former president Suharto amid an economic downturn and an explosion of social unrest.