(30 Nov 2016) Thousands of Indonesians on Wednesday joined nationwide interfaith rallies organised by the military in an attempt to demonstrate national unity as religious and racial tensions divide the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Police estimated that 30,000 people attended a rally at the national monument in capital Jakarta, but said half of them were either from the military or police.
Rallies were also held in other big cities.
The organisers of Wednesday's rallies, led by the military chief General Gatot Nurmantyo, also invited students and leaders of the six religions recognised in Indonesia.
Groups of people wearing headbands in the red and white colours of the Indonesian flag prayed together, and soldiers sang patriotic songs.
Security forces are bracing for a second massive protest by conservatives Muslims in Jakarta on Friday against the city's minority Christian governor, who is being prosecuted for alleged blasphemy.
The first protest, which drew more than 100,000 people on November 4, turned violent, with one person killed and dozens injured after hard-liners clashed with police.
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