They said that the rebels had been sent by Ivan Marquez, a member of the Farc's seven-man ruling secretariat, and head of the rebels' International Front, which handles the guerrillas' foreign affairs.
Habibie, has allies who control the ruling political grouping of Golkar, the man who succeeded Suharto is still associated in the minds of many with his former boss, and his popular support is not strong.
General Mamdouh Shaheen, a member of the 24-man ruling army council, told a television interviewer that at least until presidential elections are held next summer the army will retain the right to hire and fire governments.