Bali Bomb Suspect: U.S. Was Target

A key suspect in last year's Bali bombings said Wednesday the intended targets of the attack were "the enemies of Islam," especially Americans, and that he regretted the high Australian death toll.

Ali Imron made the comments to reporters after police handed to prosecutors their dossiers on him and 13 other suspects. The move is a precursor to formal charges being filed against the men for their alleged role in the Oct. 12, 2002, nightclub attacks that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

Another suspect, alleged mastermind Imam Samudra, shouted out "Destroy America" and "God is great" to reporters gathered at the Bali prosecutors office.

Imron, whose older brother Amrozi bin Nurhasyim on Monday became the first of 33 suspects to go on trial over the attack, admitted he played a role in the bombings.

He also said he was "prepared" to face justice over the bloodiest terror strike since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Asked why he carried out the bombings, Imron said. "Primarily because of jihad…against the enemies of Islam, in this regard America."

He said he "regretted" the 88 Australian fatalities, saying they "were not in line with the (operation's) objective."

Earlier, police in a tightly guarded motorcade brought the files and the handcuffed suspects to the prosecutors' office in Bali.

Lt. Col. Yatim Suyatmo said police have recommended that all 14 be charged with planning and committing a terrorist act.

Samudra, Imron and a third suspect, Hutomo Pamungkas, could face death while the others could get prison sentences ranging from three to 15 years, he said.

Prosecutors will either formerly charge the suspects or return their files to police to seek additional information.

Amrozi, a 40-year-old mechanic, is charged with helping plan and carry out the bombings at the Sari Club and Paddy's Bar after he allegedly purchased a minivan and bomb-making materials used in the attack.

According to the indictment, Amrozi and 32 other suspects in custody launched the attack to punish Washington and its allies for their perceived oppression of the world's Muslims. Amrozi also faces the death penalty.

The trials are seen as a test of Indonesia's willingness to crack down on radical Islamic groups in the world's largest Muslim nation.

They could also shed light on the inner workings of Jemaah Islamiyah, the al Qaeda-linked group believed responsible for the carnage on Bali as part of wider campaign to set up a Southeast Asian Islamic state.

Police and prosecutors say they have a strong case — including confessions from many of the suspects, testimony from dozens of witnesses and physical evidence, such as receipts for the explosives and the chassis of the minivan used in the attack.

Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed for other bombings in Indonesia and thwarted attacks on the U.S. Embassy and other Western targets in Singapore.

Jemaah Islamiyah's alleged leader, Abu Bakar Bashir, is on trial in Jakarta for treason. Police have not linked him directly to the Bali attack but have accused him of trying to destabilize Indonesia's secular government with a string of church bombings in 2000.

On April 25, the State Department allowed the return to Indonesia of diplomatic staff and dependents who had been evacuated when the war with Iraq began.

But it warned: "The U.S. government believes extremist elements may be planning additional attacks targeting U.S. interests in Indonesia, particularly U.S. government officials and facilities."