"There is little that president Suharto can do to extinguish the flames of public anger except to stand down and make way for democratic successors," the Bangkok Post newspaper said in an editorial.

"There is little to be gained and much to be lost by staying on. For Indonesia's sake and that of Asean, the sooner general Suharto calls it a day, the better," the paper added.

A speedy settlement would be in the interests not only of all parties in Indonesia, the Post said, but would also help bring calm to the region.

"The region as a whole has been knocked about by adverse economic conditions and is yearning for peace and stability that can only come when problems in as important a country as Indonesia are sorted out," it added.

"As important, perhaps, is how the face of the Asean nations can be expected tochange with democracy taking hold in the region's engine room," it said.The Nation newspaper said Indonesians deserved genuine democracy.

President Suharto's days were as good as over whether he decided to slog it out or give in, it added.