Muslim cleric sues 'Time'

JAKARTA: Indonesian Mujahidin Council head Abubakar Ba'asyir has launched libel action against Time magazine for its story accusing him of involvement in the alleged international terrorist network, Al-Qaeda.

Abubakar and his team of Muslim lawyers led by Mahendradatta, filed the suit at National Police Headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Mahendradatta said the story carried by Time on Sept. 23 was slanderous, as United States Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce himself had clarified it.

He said he would invite Boyce and secretary of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Din Syamsuddin, to testify when the case reached trial.

"Pak Din directly heard the clarification," he said.

He said Time had also accused Ba'asyir of having had frequent meetings with Umar al-Faruq, whom the US government has accused of involvement in terrorist activities in the West Java town of Bogor.

The fact is, Ba'asyir did not know Al-Faruq, he said. -- Antara