The youngest of three Indonesian brothers being tried for last year's deadly blasts on the tourist island of Bali begged for forgiveness on Thursday, telling a court that the attack was wrong and besmirched Islam.

Ali Imron, a key suspect in last year's deadly Bali bomb blasts, arrives for his trial in Denpasar, Bali August 21, 2003. He begged for forgiveness on Thursday, telling the court the attack was wrong and besmirched Islam.   [Reuters]

Although Ali Imron faces charges of plotting and organising terror crimes similar to those of his older siblings, he has repeatedly shown remorse during the trial rather than the pride and defiance of his brothers.

He also said he hesitated before taking part in the attack but could not defy his older brothers. Imron is the youngest of three brothers accused of playing central roles in the bombings that killed 202 people, mostly foreign holidaymakers, in Bali's famed Kuta beach strip.

They are Mukhlas, the suspected commander of the Bali operation who has retracted all of his earlier statements to the authorities, and Amrozi, who has been sentenced to death in the only case where a verdict has been delivered so far. Amrozi said he said he was proud the attacks killed white people. In contrast, Imron said on Thursday: "What I have done was a mistake from a religious and nationalistic point of view. I think it was not a jihad bomb. What happened in Legian street was clearly not jihad."

Wearing a black suit and tie -- again different from other Bali defendants who have appeared in traditional Muslim dress -- Imron said:

"I ask forgiveness from the Balinese, the Indonesian government and people and also the Islamic community. My deeds have smeared Islam and troubled Muslims," he said.

Imron's demeanour was a stark contrast to the swaggering Amrozi who gave two thumbs up and denounced Jews when the Denpasar district court sentenced him to death on August 7.

It may be weeks before the court decides its verdict on Imron. The trial was adjourned until August 27 when three more witnesses take the stand.

Indonesian authorities have said the Bali bombings were the workings of Jemaah Islamiah, a Southeast Asian militant Muslim group accused of plotting and carrying out attacks in the region.

Jakarta has also blamed the group for bombing the JW Marriot Hotel in the Indonesian capital earlier this month. The suicide car-bomb attack at the lobby of the U.S-run hotel killed 12 people and wounded 150 others.

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