RI musician killed in Amman

Agencies, Jakarta/Amman

An Indonesian jazz musician was among the 57 people killed in the triple bombings of Western-owned hotels in the Jordanian capital of Amman, while two other Indonesian musicians were among the more than 100 injured.

An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that the ministry had received information from the Indonesian Embassy in Jordan that three Indonesians were among the victims of the suspected suicide bombings.

Ministry spokesman Yuri Thamrin said that the dead victim was identified as Perri Pattisilano, 55, while two other Indonesians, identified as Harjanto and Pinky, were injured in the blasts and were now being treated in the hospital in Amman.

"The three Indonesian victims were musicians working at (the Grand Hyatt) hotel," the ministry said in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post.

The statement added that the ministry had informed the victims' families.

"We are still discussing the return of Perri's remains with his family," Yuri said.

The statement said that Minister Hassan Wirayuda had conveyed a message of sympathy on behalf of the Indonesian government to Jordanian Foreign Minister Y.M. Farouk Kasrawi.

Hassan has also ordered the Indonesian Ambassador in Jordan to visit hospitals in Amman to ascertain whether any other Indonesian citizens had been affected by the attacks.

Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono condemned the deadly bomb attacks and also urged the global community to increase cooperation in fighting against terrorism.

"The President on behalf of the Indonesian people expressed his deepest condolences over the tragedy. The President also stressed the need for global solidarity to fight against terrorist attacks," Dino Patti Djalal, a presidential spokesman, told Antara.

In Wednesday night's synchronized attacks, two bombs exploded while crowds were celebrating weddings, leaving blood and destruction at Amman's luxury Grand Hyatt hotel and the nearby Radisson SAS. A third blast targeted a Days Inn hotel.

Al Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al- Zarqawi, said in a statement on a website that "a group of our best lions" had launched the attacks in Jordan.

"Some hotels were chosen which the Jordanian despot had turned into a backyard for the enemies of the faith, the Jews and crusaders," said the message signed by the group's spokesman, as quoted by Reuters. Its authenticity could not be verified.

Police said they thought the blasts were the work of suicide bombers. Simultaneous attacks are an al-Qaeda hallmark and U.S. officials said they suspected the network was to blame.

Jordan's King Abdullah blamed a "deviant and misled group" for the blasts. "The attacks targeted and killed innocent Jordanian civilians," the king, whose country is bordered by Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Israel, said in a statement.

Al Qaeda in Iraq's statement said:"Let the tyrant of Amman know that his protection...for the Jews has become a target for the mujahideen and their attacks, and let him expect the worst."

Jordan is one of two Arab countries that have signed peace treaties with Israel. It helped the United States in the war on Iraq, where Zarqawi's group is part of an anti-U.S. insurgency.