ABC AUSTRALIA, 21/10/2002 11:13:13
Indonesian cleric linked to Osama bin Laden's network
Indonesia's Defence Minister Matori Abdul Djalil has described the detained radical
Islamist leader Abu Bakar Bashir as being linked to the Al Qaeda network.
Indonesia Correspondent Tim Palmer reports from Jakarta that the man now under
police guard in a Central Java hospital has at the same time been branded a terrorist
by Indonesia's former President Abdurrahman Wahid.
"One of the lawyer's for the 64-year old cleric says he expects Abu Bakar Bashir will
be discharged from hospital within three days and that police could then question
him."
"National director of criminal investigations Brigadier General Aryanto Sutadi says that
police, who moved into the Solo Hospital on Saturday after Abu Bakar Bashir failed to
a attend a scheduled police interview, formally changed his status to a police detainee
mid Sunday."
"However, the 30 day period in which he can be questioned will only begin when he is
discharged."
Terrorist web
Palmer continues, "Police say Abu Bakar isn't being treated as a suspect in the Bali
bombing, but in connection to other evidence given by Al Qaeda member Omar al
Faruq who's being interrogated by America's Central Interlligence Agency."
"Indonesia's Defence Minister, Matori Abdul Djalil, says that Abu Bakar is linked to
al-Qaeda."
"The Defence Minister also claims that a fellow Jamaah Islamiyah member still in
hiding, the 36 year old, Hambali, as being involved in previous bomb attacks."
21/10/2002 11:13:13 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
