Bali bomb 'a strike against US'

Last year's bomb attack on Bali was part of a campaign against the US and its allies in revenge for Muslim oppression, according to the indictment against the first suspect to stand trial.

Amrozi, whose trial is due to begin on Monday, will face four charges of terrorism, punishable by death, the indictment said.

AMROZI

Aged 40

Mechanic from Lamongan, East Java

One of three brothers charged

Click here for full profile

He is one of three brothers accused of taking part in the bombing, and was nicknamed "the laughing bomber" by Australian press last year after his first appearance before the media.

He is expected to plead not guilty to all charges.

Amrozi's trial is expected to be held in a converted hall near the district court in Bali, which has had a metal cage installed to house defendants.

Press reports said the trial would involve more than 100 witnesses and last up to five months. Police said some 3,000 officers would be deployed to safeguard Monday's hearing.

The trial is set to be heard by a panel of ethnically and religiously diverse judges, according to the head of the judicial panel, I Made Karna.

"We've dubbed this judicial panel the Rainbow Team," Mr Karna was quoted as saying in the Media Indonesia daily.

"Each is a senior judge with an average of more than 10 years' service," he added.

Countdown to bombing

According to the indictment, the first meeting to plan an attack "against American interests and its allies" was held in Bangkok in February 2002. That was allegedly led by Mukhlas, Amrozi's older brother, although Amrozi was not there.

Amrozi, did, however, allegedly attend later planning sessions - in a car in the city of Solo in Central Java in August 2002, at two mosques in the city, and at his house in East Java.

At the meeting in the car, another suspect, Imam Samudra, is alleged to have said "there was a big project of declaring war against the United States of America, and a plan was made for some bombing targets in Bali, the specifications of which would be fixed".

The meeting allegedly "discussed the awareness of a Muslim's obligations to others suppressed and massacred by the United States of America and the allies thereof in Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir, on the Halmahera island (Maluku), Ambon and in Iraq".

The Maluku islands, including the capital island Ambon, have been the scene of fighting between Muslims and Christians in which about 5,000 people have been killed.

Throughout September 2002, Amrozi bought more than one tonne of chemicals in Java which were then sent by bus to Bali, the indictment said.

ALLEGED TIMELINE

Feb 2002 - 1st planning meeting, in Bangkok

Aug - Bali chosen as target

Sept - Amrozi bought chemicals

5 Oct - Amrozi drove van to Bali

7 Oct - Bombs built

12 Oct - Fatal attacks

On 5 October, Amrozi and a man called Utomo Pamungkas, alias Mubarok, are alleged to have driven a converted Mitsubishi van, with its engine numbers erased, to Bali.

Two days later, three bombs were built by Ali Imron - another of Amrozi's brothers - , Dr Azahari, Dulmatin, Abdul Goni, alias Umar Besar, and Umar Kecil, alias Patek, the indictment read.

The biggest bomb - which was packed into the Mitsubishi van Amrozi drove, and detonated outside the Sari night club - contained 900 kilograms of potassium chloride, 40 kilograms of aluminium powder, 100 kilograms of black powder and 25 kilograms of TNT and was triggered by an electrical switch, the charge sheet said.

A smaller bomb, which was used in nearby Paddy's Bar, was allegedly contained in a vest, constructed by Azahari, a Malaysian who is reportedly still being sought.

That explosive was allegedly worn by a man, called Feri, alias Isa, who died in the blast.

A third bomb, outside the US consulate, was detonated by mobile phone by a man called Idris, the indictment said.

That explosion caused no injuries.

The other two bombings killed 202 foreign and Indonesian victims.