Transcript

MARK COLVIN: Thousands of Muslims have massed in the Indonesian capital Jakarta and are planning to march on the US embassy there. There's talk of Jihad, or holy war, although spokesmen are at pains to stress that this means only a spiritual, not a physical war in the context of Indonesia Islam.

That's not a distinction that those holed up in the American embassy may be inclined to listen to at the moment. Our correspondent Ginny Stein is on the ground in Jakarta.

GINNY STEIN: I'm in the centre of the city at the independence or freedom [indistinct] monuments here. There are thousands of people who have come out. It is the largest demonstration we've seen yet - an anti-American demonstration. People here raising their concerns about possible strikes to take place in Afghanistan. They're saying that it should not happen.

We have one section here calling for a Jihad in a war - in their view as a war. We have others here saying a Jihad in a spiritual sense. It is showing the concerns about America's position on this and its allies that people have come out here today.

MARK COLVIN: I know you've seen some very big demonstration sin the past. It's not a big as those is it?

GINNY STEIN: No it's not. But it is definitely the largest demonstration we have seen here against America. There are thousands of people. What we've seeing in the past week is small demonstrations - people in their hundreds perhaps, different groups demonstrating in different places in the city.

But here on a Friday after prayers people have united to come out - those various groups who put their voice, their views across.

MARK COLVIN: Are they going to march on the American embassy?

GINNY STEIN: Well that's what we've heard that the plan is, that they will make their way towards there. What we have seen in the past week is various groups being prevented from getting close. But they have been small groups and the security forces here have been quite able to prevent them going further.

There aren't that many security forces here at the moment. But it's a peaceful protest. We don't know which way it's going to head. They've been reciting prayers for the last 15 minutes. We will just have to see which way they want to hurt.

MARK COLVIN: The American embassies all over the world always have US marines inside them. They have their own defences to some extent and the Americans must be somewhat on edge. If they get too close what's likely to be the consequence?

GINNY STEIN: Well they are definitely on edge. They have put out statements here saying that all non-essential diplomatic staff can leave the country. But what is interesting, this protest is taking place right now in front of the British embassy.

Of course, they are seen as allies but there is very little security - visible security in front of the embassy here. I guess people here think that it isn't that big a problem at the moment.

MARK COLVIN: Indonesia's a country of course, with a woman as President and the previous President was very much a moderate Muslim. But are we know seeing, when we're talking about Jihad, are we now seeing a different face of Islam in Indonesia?

GINNY STEIN: What we're seeing here with the Jihad at the moment is, ion its literal sense, you could say that it's a declaration of war, but people here are making the point that it's not. It's a spiritual sense that it's being said at the
moment. It's a spiritual and moral battle that the people are fighting for.

MARK COLVIN: Ginny Stein in Jakarta.