15 years' jail for cleric linked to Bali bombing

THE Indonesian Muslim cleric and spiritual leader of the militants who carried out the 2002 Bali bombings - which killed 202 people, many of them Americans and Australians - was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in jail.

Abu Bakar Bashir, 72, was convicted of inciting terrorism after being linked to a terrorist training camp found last year.

The verdict was announced amid tight security at a Jakarta courthouse. Bashir has beaten two attempts by prosecutors to link him to terror activities in the past eight years.

"This verdict ignores Sharia law and is based on infidel law, so it's forbidden for me to accept it," Bashir said in court.

His lawyer said he would appeal the verdict.