Jakarta

Indonesia delays execution of three Bali bombers

Jakarta, IndonesiaJakarta - Indonesian authorities said on Wednesday they have shelved plans to execute three death-row Bali bombers before the beginning of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in September.

Attorney-General Hendarman Supandji said the delay was due to the fact that his office had not yet received formal Supreme Court confirmation that the three condemned militants had exhausted all their appeals.

Three killed as bridge collapses in west Sumatra

Three killed as bridge collapses in west Sumatra Jakarta - A suspension bridge collapsed in Indonesia's west Sumatra province, killing three people and injuring 11 others, local media reports said Monday.

The accident took place on Sunday afternoon in Pakandangan village, Pesisir Selatan regency, when dozens of people were crossing the bridge on their way to pay homage at the grave of a noted Muslim leader, Sheikh Abdul Wahab.

To reach the grave, the devout have to cross a 90-metre suspension bridge.

Indonesia releases prisoners to commemorate independence day

Indonesia releases prisoners to commemorate independence dayJakarta - Indonesia on Sunday marked its independence day with the reduction of jail sentences to tens of thousands of prisoners including convicted Australian drug traffickers.

More than 55,000 prisoners who have completed at least one-third of their sentences were granted reductions ranging from several weeks or months.

At least 5,700 inmates will walk free, said Untung Sugiyono, director-general of correctional institutions at the Justice and Human Rights Affairs Ministry.

Indonesian president warns terrorism remains a threat

Jakarta - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned Friday that terrorism remained a threat to the country despite various achievements in combating such attacks.

In a state of the nation address ahead the August 17 independence day, Yudhoyono said efforts to thwart and overcome transnational crime and terrorism have shown "encouraging progress."

"The security apparatus has managed to arrest, prosecute and sentence the perpetrators," Yudhoyono said, adding that police discovered a cache of home-made explosives and bombs in South Sumatra's capital of Palembang in July.

"Various achievements are very heartening to all of us, but we must continue to heighten our vigilance," he said.

Indonesian economic growth forecast at 6.2 per cent in 2009

Jakarta - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono unveiled Friday a draft state budget for the fiscal year 2009, forecasting economic growth of 6.2 per cent.

In a state of the nation address ahead the August 17 independence day, Yudhoyono said the government's revenues and grants in the 2009 draft state budget would amount to 1,022.6 trillion rupiah (112.37 billion dollars), while the total expenditures were forecast at 1,222.2 trillion rupiah (134.3 billion dollars).

Yudhoyono said the 2009 budget marked a 14.3-per-cent increase compared with the 2008 revised budget, predicting a budget deficit of 1.9 per cent of GDP, which will be mostly funded from domestic sources - mainly derived from the issuance of government bonds.

A small plane crash kills its pilot in Indonesia's Papua

A small plane crash kills its pilot in Indonesia's PapuaJakarta - A light plane crashed in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, killing its pilot, media reports said Sunday.

The plane, piloted by a US national identified only as Dave with no passenger on board, was en route from Wamena to Ndundu, the state-run Antara news agency reported.

The Pilatus Porter airplane belonging to Associated Mission Aviation went down in a mountainous area in Wamena district on Saturday.

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