Protesters greet Condoleezza Rice

A protester at the US Embassy in Jakarta. Picture / Getty Images

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's two-day visit to Indonesia sparked protests by Muslim groups.

The Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia Muslim organisation shouted slogans and waved placards at the US Embassy in Jakarta.

Rice was in the world's most populous Muslim nation to promote ties and court moderates but, as 300 policemen looked on with two water cannons on standby, one speaker told the protesters: "Our welcome speech will say, 'Condoleezza Rice go to hell'. Because wherever she goes, the US targets the place not to solve problems but to create problems."

Rice said: "I understand that the United States has had to do things in the world that are not that popular in much of the world. We are fighting a very tough enemy, an enemy that has been felt here in Indonesia with bombings in Bali and Jakarta."

She then flew on to Sydney, arriving in Australia yesterday for a three-day visit, which will include the so-called Trilateral Security Dialogue between Australia, the US and Japan on Saturday.

Following today's talks with Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, the top US diplomat will visit American sailors on board the navy ship USS Port Royal, which is docked at a military base in Sydney. Later in the day, Dr Rice will dine with Prime Minister John Howard.

She goes to Melbourne on Friday to attend some Commonwealth Games events.

Dr Rice has indicated the growing power of China as one of the key issues for discussion with Australian officials.

- GETTY, REUTERS, RADIO AUSTRALIA