Indonesian President Joko Widodo has blamed "political actors" for fanning violence at a mass protest in Jakarta which called for the resignation of the capital's governor.

Key points: Joko Widodo says unnamed politicians incited peaceful protests to turn violent

Joko Widodo says unnamed politicians incited peaceful protests to turn violent Leading protest group says police provoked violence by firing tear gas

Leading protest group says police provoked violence by firing tear gas The group says they may organise another protest if legal proceedings against Jakarta governor are impeded

Police say one person died and more than 100 were injured at the protest on Friday, with Muslim extremists pressing for Christian Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to step down over accusations he insulted the Koran.

The President postponed a planned visit to Australia after the protests turned violent.

At a news conference Mr Widodo said he blamed "political actors" for fanning popular anger over Governor Purnama, who is standing for re-election in February, competing with two Muslim candidates for the job.

Joko Widodo had to cancel his Australian trip because of the violence. ( ABC News: Phil Hemingway )

The governorship of the capital is a powerful position, held by Mr Widodo before he became president two years ago.

Mr Widodo, a Muslim, has vowed not to interfere in any legal proceedings against Mr Purnama, who is an ally of the President.

But he told the news conference that any legal process involving Mr Purnama would be executed "swiftly, firmly and transparently".

He criticised politicians, whom he did not name, for inciting die-hard protesters after most had already gone home.

"We deplore the incident … [that] should have already disbanded but became violent," he said.

"And, we see this was steered by political actors who were exploiting the situation."

Protesters deny responsibility for violence

Protest group Islamic Defenders Front accused police of provoked the violence. ( Reuters: Antara Foto )

A spokesman for the Islamic Defenders Front, one of the groups that led the protest, denied responsibility for the violence and said the police had provoked violence by firing tear gas.

The group's spokesman, Munarman, who goes by one name, said they may organise another protest if the legal process against Mr Purnama for his Koran comments was not allowed to run its course.

"If the law is ignored … then we will call for similar action," he said.

About a dozen Muslim groups have accused Mr Purnama of insulting Islam after he jokingly said his opponents had used a verse from the Koran to deceive voters.

The verse implies Muslims should not choose non-Muslims as leaders.

Police are investigating the case against Mr Purnama, who has apologised for his remarks, insisting he was not criticising the Koranic verse but those who used it to attack him.

He remains popular despite efforts by Muslim groups to vilify him and is seen as the frontrunner in the election, though many voters are angry with him for evicting thousands from slums to modernise Jakarta.

Reuters