Bali bomb cleric freed from jail
A Muslim cleric convicted over the 2002 nightclub bombings on Indonesian island Bali, which killed 202 people, has been released from prison in Jakarta.
Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was found guilty in March 2005 of conspiracy in connection with the bomb plot, but he was cleared of more serious charges.
Security experts say the cleric is a founding member of a regional Islamic militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI).
Supporters gathered outside the prison, cheering as he left the building.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey, in Jakarta, says Abu Bakar Ba'asyir emerged into bright sunlight and a crowd of supporters, police and journalists.
He was freed about one hour ahead of schedule, surprising many - including his lawyer, who did not arrive at the jail until his client had been whisked away.
He was thought to be travelling straight to his home town of Solo, in central Java, where he runs an Islamic school.
I will continue to fight to uphold the Islamic Sharia. I thank Allah that I am free today
Abu Bakar Ba'asyir
Wearing his trademark white skullcap and thick spectacles, the elderly cleric tried to give a brief speech, but his voice was barely heard among the shouting, our correspondent adds.
"I will continue to fight to uphold the Islamic Sharia," he said, thanking Allah and his lawyers for continuing to support him, the Associated Press reported him as saying.
With the crowd becoming increasingly excited, a group of young men formed a human barrier to allow Abu Bakar Ba'asyir to move through the sea of jostling people towards a waiting car.
Charges dropped
Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was first arrested shortly after the Bali nightclub bombings in October 2002, although he was never accused of taking part in the attack.
Two bombs ripped through the Kuta area of Bali, a regular haunt for tourists, destroying a nightclub and killing mainly foreigners.
Ba'asyir was held in custody and faced two separate trials, eventually serving two separate sentences, the first for minor immigration offences, the second for being part of what the court called an "evil conspiracy".
In both cases more serious charges were either dropped or later overturned on appeal.
Back to teaching
Indonesian and foreign intelligence agencies believe Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was, and perhaps still is, the leader of radical network JI.
Viewed within Indonesia as a charismatic, influential Muslim leader, he has a reputation for violent anti-Western rhetoric, our correspondent says.
Members of JI are accused of being behind a number of operations in Indonesia, including two suicide attacks in Jakarta and the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings.
But most of these attacks took place while Abu Bakar Ba'asyir was in prison and he denies JI even exists.
He claims he was the victim of an American-inspired plot to undermine Islam.
The 68-year-old cleric has said that once released he planned to return to the boarding-school he founded and to continue teaching.
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Published: 2006/06/14 02:47:45 GMT
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