Twenty years sought for GAM leader

The prosecution requested on Thursday a 20-year sentence for a Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist leader charged with masterminding the bomb blasts last May at the Medan mayor's office and a gas pipeline in Belawan, North Sumatra. No casualties were recorded in the blasts. The prosecution told the Medan District Court that the defendant, Manaf Abdi, alias Abu Hendon, 61, a resident of West Langsa, North Aceh district, was most responsible for the bombings. The trial has been adjourned for a week, when the defense plea will be heard. -- JP