An Indonesian court has sentenced militant Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir to 30 months in jail on conspiracy charges connected to the Bali bombings.
However the court found him not guilty of ordering the 2002 attack that killed 202 people. The court also cleared him of terrorism charges, and of involvement in the Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta in 2003.
A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Jakarta told VOA that while the United States welcomes the conviction of Bashir, whom he called a known terrorist leader, it is disappointed at the length of the sentence handed down. Australia also criticized the sentence and said it hopes prosecutors win a longer one on appeal.
Bashir's lawyers say they also will appeal the verdict, which they said was politically motivated.
Information for this report is provided by Reuters, AP, AFP.
However the court found him not guilty of ordering the 2002 attack that killed 202 people. The court also cleared him of terrorism charges, and of involvement in the Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta in 2003.
A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Jakarta told VOA that while the United States welcomes the conviction of Bashir, whom he called a known terrorist leader, it is disappointed at the length of the sentence handed down. Australia also criticized the sentence and said it hopes prosecutors win a longer one on appeal.
Bashir's lawyers say they also will appeal the verdict, which they said was politically motivated.
Information for this report is provided by Reuters, AP, AFP.
