Re-arrest of militant cleric by Indonesian police sparks violence

HUNDREDS of protesters clashed with police in Indonesia’s capital yesterday as officers re-arrested a cleric accused of heading the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network and whisked him away — on the day of his release from prison.

About 300 supporters of Abu Bakar Bashir gathered outside Jakarta’s Salemba prison before daybreak and threw stones and bottles at riot police, who responded with water cannon and tear gas.

Several people, including at least one officer and two journalists, sustained minor injuries. There were no immediate reports of arrests. Witnesses said a group of policemen grabbed Bashir from the prison and rushed him into a waiting van. As he was taken out, Bashir smiled and waved at waiting journalists, saying only: “the will of God must be carried out.”