Bali bombings 'meant to coincide with 9/11 anniversary'

The Bali nightclub bombings were supposed to take place on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a key suspect told an Indonesian court today.

The blasts that killed 202 people, including 26 Britons, were only delayed until October 12 because the explosives were not ready, Ali Imron said.

He is one of 35 suspects in the attacks. Earlier this month, the court in Denpasar issued the first conviction in the Bali case, sentencing Amrozi bin Nurhasyim to death. Imron also faces execution by firing squad if found guilty.

Meanwhile, the radical Muslim cleric accused of leading the group blamed for the blasts wept in court at a separate trial in Jakarta, and said the Indonesian government had framed him on charges of treason and plotting to assassinate its president.

Abu Bakar Bashir denied any wrongdoing and said the authorities in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia had tortured witnesses to testify against him.

“We know that the witnesses (in Singapore and Malaysia) were detained under the Internal Security Act, which is very cruel,” he said. “They have been tortured to testify in my trial.”

His outburst contrasted with his previous defiant behaviour and cocky attitude. He is not accused directly of being involved in the Bali blasts, but is on trial for a string of bombings at churches around Indonesia and alleged plot to assassinate the president.

Bashir, 64, is allegedly the spiritual head of Jemaah Islamiyah, which is blamed for the Bali bombings, a suicide bombing this month at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, and a number of alleged plots to strike Western targets in Singapore. It is accused of having links to al-Qaida.

Witnesses have testified that Bashir was a founder and leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, whose operational chief Hambali was arrested last week in Thailand and handed to the US.

Hambali is believed to have masterminded the Bali and Marriott bombings.