JAKARTA (CWNews.com) - The Indonesian government said on Thursday it would move against a training camp for Muslims preparing to wage a jihad, or holy war, against Christians in the mainly Muslim nation.

    National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Rusdihardjo said police will close the camps, confiscate weapons, and prevent the extremists from entering the Malukus region where 14 months of fighting between Christian and Muslim gangs has left thousands dead. More than 2,000 militants set up the camp just south of Jakarta this week after massive protests demanding the government allow them to slaughter the Christians.

    The Muslim extremists' leaders have previously said they will wage their war on the main island of Java if they are prevented from entering the Malukus. The Indonesian navy has had a blockade in place around the Malukus for several months to prevents weapons and potential fighters from entering the area.

    Prominent political analyst Mochtar Pabottingi said certain disgruntled factions within the powerful, independent military -- which has not yet acted against the groups -- may be organizing and sponsoring the extremists in an effort to destabilize President Abdurrahman Wahid's government. Wahid has pushed for a lesser role for the military in the nation's politics.

    Indonesia is the most populous Muslim nation in the world, with about 85 percent of its 210 million people belonging to the religion. Christians had been a majority in the Malukus following centuries of Dutch colonial rule.