Handling of Bali executions questioned

Indonesia's handling of the executions of three militants for the 2002 Bali bombings caused unnecessary suffering for victims of the blasts and helped fan domestic passions, Indonesian media said yesterday.

The three men from the militant Islamist group Jemaah Islamiah - Imam Samudra, Mukhlas, and Amrozi - were executed by firing squad on Sunday for the 2002 nightclub attacks that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians.

Just days ahead of the executions, the bombers gave interviews to several television channels, often sounding defiant and calling for more attacks.