Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Indonesia Holds 2 Linked To Al-Qaeda

Source Article HERE.

From 'CNN': Two top leaders of a terror network linked to Al-Qaeda are in the custody of Indonesian police following their arrest in Malaysia, authorities said on Tuesday. Malaysian police, conducting a routine raid on illegal immigrants, arrested the two men several weeks ago. They are said to be part of Jemaah Islamiyah, a group that is thought to be linked to Al-Qaeda. It aims to create a Muslim "superstate" across Southeast Asia. Jemaah Islamiyah is suspected of being behind the 2002 nightclub bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali, which killed more than 200 mostly Western tourists.

The two men were returned to Indonesia, where they are being investigated for their possible role in fomenting violence in Poso, on Indonesia's eastern Sulawesi island. Fighting between Muslims and Christians periodically breaks out in the region and sometimes turns deadly. Police have accused Jemaah Islamiyah of sending armed militants to Poso. The two men arrested are Dr. Agus Purwanto and Abdur Rohim, who also goes by Abu Hasna.

Terrorism expert Sidney Jones says Abdur Rohim is believed to have replaced Zarkasih as Jemaah Islamiyah leader, after Zarkasih's arrest last year. Zarkasih and the head of the group's military wing, Abu Dujana, are on trial in Jakarta. Verdicts in their case are expected soon. "It is another major blow to Jemaah Islamiyah, but difficult to tell what the impact will be," Jones told CNN via e-mail. "It could embolden a more militant faction. (It) could also lead to some serious reassessment within the organization about its future."

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