Special prayer for Agus Budiman

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