Indonesia defends record on fighting terrorism

Indonesia today defended its record on fighting terrorism after the United States and Australia criticised the 30-month sentence given to the alleged spiritual leader of an al-Qaida-linked terror group as too lenient.

Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natelagawa said the independence of the court that tried Abu Bakar Bashir should be respected, while noting that more than 30 other militants have been sentenced in the 2002 Bali bombings, the bloodiest terror attack blamed on the group.