JAKARTA, May 30 (Reuters) - Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid opened a poorly attended summit of developing nations on Wednesday, an event completely overshadowed by moves in parliament to impeach him.

Many Indonesians regard the holding of the summit on the same day as parliament debated Wahid's fate as a national embarrassment.

To make matters worse, the two events are being held just a few hundred metres (yards) from each other under the threat of violence from Wahid's fanatical supporters.

Wahid has threatened to order the country into as state of emergency rule if parliament continues along the road to impeaching him.

Only half the leaders of the member countries have registered for the event, whose primary topic is bridging the digital divide between rich and poor nations. The G-15 has grown to 19 since it was founded in 1989 and now comprises Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zimbabwe. Almost all of them have major political problems of their own and one leader -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez -- is also considering assuming emergency powers.

Journalists were barred from attending the summit opening and crowded around televisions in the basement of a Jakarta convention centre for live coverage of Wahid's address.

"Globalisation termed by others and forced on us has suggested that we should develop our own identity.

Identity itself is very important in order for us to resist the influence of multilateral organisations," Wahid said.

In an apparent twist to the political saga gripping Jakarta, Wahid asked his estranged vice president Megawati Sukarnoputri to make some remarks after he had finished.

She refused, waving her hand to decline.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab told reporters it was all a misunderstanding and that Megawati would make a speech later in the day.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe -- whose own grip on power is looking increasingly shaky -- then launched into his speech instead. Surprised by the arrival of Mugabe, who had last week cancelled his attendance, journalists asked summit organisers how many G-15 leaders had registered.

"We are not sure either, maybe eight," said one.