Sat, Sep 23, 2006 - Page 1 News List

Christian mobs roam Indonesia after executions

BACKLASHProtesters tried to tear apart a local parliament building and ran amok with machetes after three Catholics who had killed 70 Muslims in 2000 were put to death

AP , PALU, INDONESIA

Crowds of Muslim hard-liners gathered at the court during the hearings, likely intimidating judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and witnesses, they say.

"The men's lawyers received death threats, including a bomb planted at one lawyer's house and demonstrators armed with stones outside the courthouse demanded that the three be sentenced to death," said Isabelle Cartron of London-based rights group Amnesty International.

The men told relatives and a priest during final prayers at their jail Thursday that they were innocent but ready to die. They had said they hoped investigations into the clashes would continue, though the government says its probe is complete.

The bodies of Tibo and Riwu were placed on police helicopters and flown back to their village of Beteleme in Central Sulawesi's Morowalai district for burial, said police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Muhamad Kilat. Da Silva was buried overnight in Palu.

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