After a lightening succession of shocks early Friday that stunned the nation in the space of just a few hours, jubilation and consternation began to sink in among the various camps.

Indonesian President B J Habibie pulled out from the presidential race, while two 11th-hour candidates -- Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tanjung and legal expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra -- saw their names put on then struck off the list within hours.

As the clock was about to strike noon, members of the 700 seat People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) cast their votes in a drawn-out manual process to pick the country's fourth President from two candidates -- Opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri and Muslim leader Abdurrahman `Gus Dur' Wahid. Onlookers, observers and journalists packing the balcony, booed or applauded the MPs as theyvoted.

Megawati paused to chat briefly with Gus Dur, who was seated at the front row of the Assembly. But the atmosphere turned rowdy when counting began, with mostly the supporters on the balcony cheering whenever their candidate was named by the vote counter. News of the initial win spread quickly leading to jubilation at a major roundabout in central Jakarta, taken over by thousands of singing, chanting Megawati supporters who also flooded the main North-South avenue in the city.

Yells of "Allah is great," and "Mega" rose from the throng of supporters at the roundabout, which had been the scene for similar rallies in recent days. The throng grew by the hour, with thousands of people, many wearing the trademark red or black colours of Megawati's Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDIP) clogging the roundabout.

The roundabout was briefly cleared when an shattering explosion erupted in one of the flower pots adorning the plaza, sending people fleeing in panic shortly before noon. Three people wereslightly injured, hospital staff members said. Bomb squad personnel combed the area for evidence to identify the explosive. But barely one hour later, the roundabout was again packed with revellers.