Indonesian politicians to have perks cut in bid to quell unrest

The move aims to subdue anti-government demonstrations that have swept across the country.

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Several cities in the southeast Asian nation including the capital, Jakarta, have been gripped by anti-government demonstrations in the past week that have at times led to clashes between protesters and police.

While the protests have been fuelled by a wide range of issues - including the death of a ride-sharing driver - one core complaint concerns a new monthly allowance for lawmakers.

President Prabowo Subianto announced on Sunday that several perks would be reined in, including the size of some allowances.

The Indonesian leader - who has already had to cancel a trip to China over the unrest - said some demonstrations had gone beyond what was considered peaceful and may amount to "treason and terrorism".