INDONESIA: An Indonesian Muslim cleric has gone on trial accused of leading an al-Qaeda-linked militant network and for using his "religious charisma" to incite others to carry out bomb attacks.
Prosecutors said Abu Bakar Bashir (66) also ordered members of the Jemaah Islamiah group to disseminate statements from al- Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden calling for war against Americans.
His terrorism trial is an early test of promises by new President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to fight militancy. The US embassy in Indonesia said the trial could spark violence.
Scores of Bashir's supporters shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") as police carrying M-16 assault rifles led the bespectacled preacher into court. Bashir first waved but then silenced his supporters by placing a finger to his lips.
"It's clear I'm not guilty. I'm sure," he said as he arrived at the court. He accused President Bush from "Satan America" and the Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, of orchestrating his trial.
Prosecutors have charged Bashir with leading Jemaah Islamiah in relation to a suicide bomb attack at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in August last year which killed 12 people, along with blasts at Bali nightclubs in October 2002 which killed 202 people.
He could face the death penalty if found guilty.
"The defendant. . . planned and or moved other people to conduct terrorism crimes, on purpose and consciously using violence or the threat of violence to create the atmosphere of terror, resulting in mass casualties," said prosecutor Salman Maryadi.
Authorities have blamed Jemaah Islamiah for the attacks for which Bashir is charged, as well as for last month's suicide bombing at the Australian embassy in Jakarta which killed 10.
Maryadi said when Bashir visited a Jemaah Islamiah training camp in 2000 in the Philippines, his incitement prompted members to carry out the Marriott attack three years later.