Terror alert for Indonesia following arrest

JIHADIS may be planning new terrorist attacks against Westerners in Indonesia, according to the Foreign Affairs Department, with the arrest of a key Bali bombings suspect inflaming tensions on the archipelago.

Umar Patek, south-east Asia's most wanted terrorist suspect and known in Indonesia as the ''Little Arab'', was arrested several weeks ago in Pakistan following a tipoff from the CIA.

He is suspected to have been Jemaah Islamiyah's deputy field commander during the 2002 nightclub bombings in Bali and personally helped build the car bomb that ripped through the Sari Club.

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Indonesia's spy chief, Sutanto, said Umar Patek was captured following a violent raid, in which he was injured. His wife was also captured in the raid, he said.

''He has been arrested and he is currently in custody in Pakistan,'' Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas told The Age yesterday.

But General Abbas declined to confirm reports coming from Pakistan that Patek had confessed to his role in the Bali bombings as well as disclosing details of further terrorist plots, including attacks targeting Australians.

Reports by Pakistani media yesterday suggested Patek, who has eluded capture for the past decade despite a US$1 million reward, may have already provided information of use to counter-terrorism officials.

Pakistani officials have arrested Indonesian Umar Patek, suspect in 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Intelligence sources say top Indonesian terror suspect Umar Patek has been arrested in Pakistan. 

Patek is one of the main suspects in the 2002 Bali bombings that left 202 people dead.

Two officials speaking on condition that they not be named said Patek was taken into custody in Pakistan on March 2. One of the sources is an Indonesian security official, and the other is a Philippine intelligence official who cited information from U.S. counterparts.

more updates are coming

Indonesian Muslims protest Gadhafi, int'l strikes

More than 10,000 Indonesians have rallied peacefully to support pro-democracy movements in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain.

The crowd, organized by an Islamic political party, expressed opposition to the international air strikes that have checked Libya's military and helped rebels gain control of key towns. But they also called for the immediate resignation of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and the protection of civilians.

Justice and Prosperity Party leader Hidayat Nur Wahid told the crowd Sunday the Gadhafi dictatorship must be ousted to stop a humanitarian tragedy.

Indonesia's own "people power" revolt toppled long-ruling dictator and Washington ally Gen. Suharto in 1998.

Small bomb wounds 4 in Indonesia's capital

A mail bomb addressed to a moderate Muslim leader exploded in Indonesia's capital Tuesday as police were trying to defuse it, wounding four people.

The bungled attempt by officers was captured on video and widely aired on local television stations.

The explosive, delivered to the offices of the Islamic Liberal Network, was placed in a hole carved into a heavy book titled "They should be killed for their sins against Islam and the Muslims."

Witnesses told TVOne station that the book arrived with a note addressed to Ulil Abshar Abdalla, a prominent member of the U.S.-funded group, asking him to name those who should top the "hit list."

He was not in the office when the parcel arrived.

"This is clearly a terror attack," said Anton Bachrul Alam, spokesman for the national police. "We are still investigating and don't want to speculate at the moment as to who may have been behind this."

Indonesia to proceed with radical cleric's terror trial

An Indonesian court ruled Thursday that prosecutors can proceed with their case against a radical Indonesian cleric who has been indicted on seven terrorism charges.

The South Jakarta District Court rejected the defense's argument that the court had no authority to try Abu Bakar Ba'asyir.

Ba'asyir could face the death penalty under the charges, which include planning and/or inciting a terrorist act and involvement in a paramilitary training camp discovered last February in Aceh province.

He will be back in court Monday, when prosecutors will begin questioning 138 witnesses.

A large security presence ringed the courthouse ahead of the court's ruling Thursday.

Ba'asyir was first detained in August for suspected links to a militant training camp raided by authorities in Aceh in early 2010.

Police said the suspect and his organization, the Jamaat Tawhid Anshoru or JAT, were involved in setting up the camp.

The militants were preparing to launch attacks similar to the one in Mumbai 2008, and assassination attempts on Indonesian government officials, authorities have said.

But Ba'asyir's lawyers have called the case weak and a fabrication.

This will be his third trial.