"The actions remain acceptable by law," Jakarta police spokesman Prasetyo said, commenting on the throwing of tomatoes at the US embassy and the UN representative building by demonstrators here.

The spokesman said police are raising alertness for the US embassy, the Americans and other foreigners here.

Some expatriates from the United States, Australia and Britain reportedly have left their residences in Cilegon, some 50 km west of Jakarta. Workers of several multinational corporations now reside in their embassies for security reasons.

Anti-US rallies have held in the capital city since the war in Iraq began last Thursday.

On Sunday, more than 400 Muslims registered as volunteers to help Iraqi troops fight against the US-led aggression in a mission organized by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) during an anti-war rally in front of the US embassy.

The FPI has several thousand members and a reputation for vandalism by attacking bars and nightclubs, which they called were an affront to Islam. In 2001, the group threatened to attack westerners in retaliation for US-led bombing of Afghanistan, but the threats were not carried out.

In many occasions, US and British flags were burned in major cities across Indonesia which has the world's largest Muslim population.

The anti-war protests appear to have not met an end, as Prasetyo said another group would stage rally in front of the US embassy and the UN office later Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2003)