Embassies drafted in to deal with victims

Agencies Kuta, Bali

The Indonesian government has been coordinating with the embassies of the countries whose citizens fell victim to Saturday's bomb explosions in the Kuta beach resort on the island of Bali.

"We have established ongoing coordination and consultation with the embassies for dealing with the remains of the bomb victims," Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa, told Antara here on Friday.

Marty was commenting on a complaint by the Bali provincial administration, which said it was finding it difficult to handle the bodies of the victims.

He disclosed on the sidelines of a visit by Australian Prime Minister John Howard that there had been no agreement on what to do with the bodies -- whether they should be buried in Bali or sent back home.

He attributed the delay in reaching an agreement to, among other things, the failure so far to identify some of the victims.

Bali provincial administration public relations chief I Gde Nurjaya had earlier complained about the handling of the victims of the Bali bombing incident, which claimed 184 lives.

"We want it to be decided soon whether the bodies will be buried en masse in Bali, or sent back to their respective countries," Nurjaya said.

He admitted, however, that any decision should first be consulted with the ambassadors of the respective countries.

"As such, the Indonesian government should coordinate with the representatives of the countries concerned," he said.

Relatives of the victims from some countries, especially Australia, have demanded that the remains of the victims be returned soon for proper burial.

At least 184 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in the Bali nightclub bombing last Saturday, but most of the bodies were burned beyond recognition and have yet to be identified.

There are conflicting reports on how many people are missing, and authorities have yet to compile a centralized list.

Only confirmed nationals are listed, except where noted:

Australia, 30 Indonesia, 9 Britain, 9 Ecuador, 1 France, 1 Germany, 1 Netherlands, 1 New Zealand, 1 (though authorities there say three New Zealanders have been confirmed dead or missing) South Korea, 1 United States, 2 - Swiss authorities believe three of their citizens died in the bombing. - The bodies of five people who listed Singapore as their place of residence have been identified, but the government there says none are Singaporean. A Singapore-based rugby club made up of expatriates has confirmed that four British members of the club died in the bombing.

Sources: Bali hospital officials; consular officials.