Thousands of NU followers pray for Gus Dur, SBY-Boediono

Around 7,000 followers of the country's largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, attended a mass prayer at Bulungan sports center in South Jakarta on Sunday for the welfare of Indonesia.

The organizer said in a statement that the congregation held prayers especially for late NU chairman Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid as well as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono.

Kompas.com reported those who attended the service were mostly women dressed in white. Most of them had come from parts of Java and Sumatra.

Abdul Mujib Khudori, one of the leading figures at the mass prayer, said mass prayers are part of Nahdlatul Ulama's culture, and it would be good for the nation.

"We pray for the nation, peace among the leaders and welfare for all of us," he said.

Also in attendance were Muslim scholars Dimyati Rois from Central Java, Idris from Cirebon, and Aziz Mansur from East Java. Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, who is also chairman of the National Awakening Party, which Gus Dur helped establish, also attended the religious gathering.