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group of Muslim clerics from various regions in Central Java have condemned a series of sweeps conducted by the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) in several regions, such as those in Sukorharjo and Kendal regencies last week that led to clashes with locals.

'Don't take over the police's duty to tackle crime,' head of Mashitoh Islamic Boarding School Nasir Azhari said on Monday.

Another cleric, Tamam Qoulani of the Al Hikmah Al Islamiyah added that he hadrejected the idea of
establishing FPI in Salatiga for exactly those reasons.

Head of FPI advocacy team Zaenal Abidin Petir said he was sorry for the incidents but argued that the sweeps were their way of implementing true Islamic values.

FPI's sweeps in Kendal and Sukoharjo sparked people's resentment, which led toclashes that resulted in residents setting fire to FPI vehicles. To date, the police have named seven suspects in the clashes, threeof whom are FPI members.(fan/dic)