JAKARTA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo said early Saturday that violence following the massive demonstration on Friday was masterminded by "political actors".

"We respect the people's aspiration by staging the mass rally. We thank the ulemas for keeping the rally in order and peaceful until the dusk," the president said.

"However, I really regretted the unruly situation later in the evening."

"And we have learned that political actors are taking advantages of the situation," the president told a press conference after presiding over a cabinet meeting to discuss the developing situation in his office late on Friday night.

The president called on the demonstrators to return to their respective areas in an orderly manner and not to be provoked.

On Friday, 50,000 people marched against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian accused of insulting Islam.

The rally turned violent as night fell and the demonstrators clashed with police.

Police responded with tear gas, water cannon and it took hours for police to end the violence.