SURABAYA - Indonesian police said Wednesday they will not issue a permit for an international gay and transgender group to convene a regional conference because of fears it could incite unrest.

The international lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex association (ILGA) was scheduled to meet from Friday to Sunday in the world's most populous Muslim country.

"Based on intelligence reports, this event could generate social disturbances, including protests by Muslim organisations," Surabaya city police spokesman Sri Setyo Rahayu told reporters.

Conference organiser Poedjiati Tan said that they will try to negotiate with religious figures so the meeting can go ahead in the East Javan city.

"This conference is not only for gay and lesbians, it's for everybody who supports the rights of groups which have been sidelined because of their sexual preference," she said.

But Abdussomad Bukhori, head of the East Java ulemas council, a Muslim body, said: "We will try very hard to stop that conference. There will be big protests if they go ahead with their plan."