21 Aug 2008

Executions of Bali bombers delayed

6:23 am on 21 August 2008

The executions of the 2002 Bali bombers have been delayed.

Indonesia's Attorney-General Henderman Supanji previously said that he hoped the executions of Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) and Imam Samudra would happen before the holy fasting month of Ramadan begins in September.

Now he has changed his mind, saying it could not be done before then.

He added that the correct formal paperwork necessary to proceed with the executions had not yet arrived on his desk.

The ABC reports that lawyers for the bombers have also have sent a letter to the Attorney-General requesting a delay until a Constitutional Court challenge is completed.

The government is unlikely to execute the men during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan for fear of a backlash in the world's largest Muslim country.

The bombings, on 12 October, 2002, killed 202 people including 88 Australians and three New Zealanders.

A second attack on 1 October, 2005 killed 23 people, including three suicide bombers.