Death sentence sought in Bali bomb case

Indonesian prosecutors urged a court today to impose the death penalty on key Bali bombing suspect Mr Imam Samudra.

Indonesian prosecutors urged a court today to impose the death penalty on key Bali bombing suspect Mr Imam Samudra.

Mr Samudra, who has told his lawyers he would embrace execution, has admitted to being involved in the nightclub attacks on the Kuta beach strip that killed 202 people, most of them foreign holidaymakers.

But he has denied being the operation's ground commander.

"The defendant should receive the harshest penalty, death," state prosecutor Mr I Nyoman Dila told the court.

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The computer expert (33) has been charged with plotting, organising and carrying out crimes of terror and causing mass casualties in the October 12th blasts. He is one of four key suspects on trial.

Earlier this month Mr Samudra told the court the slaughter of "infidels from oppressing nations and their allies" was justifiable according to Islamic teachings. Prosecutors have said the bombers were driven by a desire for revenge against the United States and its allies.

Prosecutors have also demanded the death penalty for Amrozi, the first suspect to go on trial. That verdict is due to be handed down on August 7th.

Indonesia has blamed the bombings on Jemaah Islamiah, a southeast Asian Muslim network linked to al-Qaeda. More than 30 militants have been arrested over the Bali blasts.