U.S. to grant RI access to Hambali, Aschroft says

U.S. to grant RI access to Hambali, Aschroft says

Agencies, Nusa Dua, Bali

The United States is "working towards" giving foreign investigators access to top terror suspect Hambali in the context of the wider fight against terrorism, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said on Wednesday.

"I am not able to give a specific time frame," Ashcroft told reporters during a conference aimed at improving cooperation against terrorism in this region where numerous civilians have died in bombing attacks.

"I can say this, that we are working toward providing access which is consistent with the overall objective of fighting terrorism in a comprehensive way," he said.

Indonesian police want to question Hambali in connection with various blasts in the country. These include the car bombing of the American-run JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last August in which 12 people died and the Bali blasts in October 2002 which killed 202 people.

Hambali was arrested in Thailand in August and is in U.S. custody.

Foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said after a brief visit by U.S. President George W. Bush to this resort island last October, that the U.S. would "eventually" hand Hambali over to Indonesia for trial.

Authorities say Hambali, an Indonesian, is a senior figure in the regional Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) extremist group and in al- Qaeda. JI is blamed for the Marriott and Bali blasts and a string of others.

"We have to balance the various interests we have in various cases," Ashcroft said, without referring specifically to Hambali's case.

According to the U.S. official, the two-day Bali conference, which ends on Thursday, is a chance to deepen cooperation against those who have "murdered innocents". Terrorism is a global problem that threatens the stability and economic prosperity of people everywhere, said the attorney general.

"Through cooperative efforts of countries represented at this ministerial we will win the battle for freedom, we will win the battle for tolerance and we will win the battle against terrorism."

Ashcroft also said Southeast Asia was a key focus for the U.S.-led war on terror.

"This is a very important area. First of all this nation has been victimized significantly, both in Jakarta and here in Bali," Ashcroft said.

"We have convened here in Bali to deepen our cooperation against those who oppose our shared values and those who would murder innocents," said Ashcroft.

"Through the cooperative efforts of countries represented at this ministerial meeting we will win the battle for freedom, we will win the battle for tolerance, we will win the battle to defeat terror," he noted.

The attorney general also assured Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, that Washington's fight against terror was not directed against Islam. According to him, the international war against terrorism is not a war against any religion, but a war against terrorists.

Meanwhile, he also lauded Indonesia's plans to hold legislative elections in April and its first direct presidential election in July. "In this both ethnically and religiously diverse country, you could not have done this without your long held tradition of tolerance, which sets an example for the world to follow."

Then he offered condolences for the 48 Indonesians who were among 251 pilgrims who died during a stampede on Sunday while on the haj in Saudi Arabia.

"It is a loss that is felt by me personally and the people of the United States of America," he said.