Special prayer for Agus Budiman

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Ulemas in the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin, the home town of Agus Budiman, an Indonesian suspected by the FBI of involvement in the bloody terrorist attacks in Washington and New York last September, have held a special prayer for the safety of the 31-year-old.

The special prayer held at the Mujahirin mosque in downtown Banjarmasin was led by noted local ulema Waini Hambaly on Thursday evening. At least 100 people attended.

Agus' family now lives in Jakarta, but some of his aunts and uncles are still in Banjarmasin.

"As soon as Budiman's relatives here heard about his problems with the FBI, they asked local ulemas to hold the prayer for his safety. May all charges against him be dropped," Hambaly said, adding that Budiman spent his childhood in Banjarmasin.

Reports of Agus' alleged role in the Sept. 11 tragedy apparently shocked Budiman's former neighbors in Banjarmasin.

According to the FBI, Agus had close links to Mohamed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi, the prime suspects in the attacks in Washington and New York, and may have helped plan the attacks.

Agus is also accused of falsifying immigration documents. --JP