9 Aug 2008

Fresh appeal by Bali bombers

5:43 pm on 9 August 2008

Lawyers for three men sentenced to death for bomb attacks in Bali in 2002 have appealed against their sentence at Indonesia's constitutional court.

The appeal comes after three separate requests for a judicial review failed to overturn their convictions.

Amrozi, Ali Ghufron and Imam Samudra are due to be executed for planning and coordinating attacks on nightclubs on Bali.

A total of 202 people died in the bombings six years ago.

A senior member of the legal team said they were appealing against Indonesia's method of execution, by firing squad. He said his clients were appealing for the right to what they called a more humane execution - such as beheading or lethal injection.

The BBC reports that this is a change of tack from the bombers' defence team.

Until now, they have argued that their clients' convictions themselves are illegal, because they were tried under a terrorism law that was created after the attacks. That argument has not been upheld by the courts.

The ABC reports the government insists the executions will go ahead as planned.