An Indonesian court on Thursday sentenced to death the man who commanded the Bali nightclub bombings, wrapping up the trials of the four main accused ahead of the first anniversary of the atrocity. Islamic militant Mukhlas, who now joins a younger brother on death row, shouted ?Allahu Akbar? (God is greatest) as the verdict was announced. He said he would appeal.

?We hereby declare the defendant has been proven legally and convincingly guilty of collectively plotting crimes of terrorism and possession of firearms without permission. We impose the death sentence,? said presiding judge Tjokorda Rai Suamba. Mukhlas, alias Ali Gufron, was the fourth key suspect to be convicted for the October 12 attacks and the third to be sentenced to death by firing squad. He was accused of overall responsibility for the blasts, which killed 202 people, mainly foreign tourists partying in nightclubs.

?Death for you today, Mukhlas?

Jakarta also wants to put an Indonesian preacher called Hambali on trial over Bali, blaming the alleged operational brains of the Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah for funding the bombing operation. Hambali has been in US custody since his arrest in Thailand in August.

Mukhlas remained defiant throughout his trial and refused to cooperate with investigators, angering survivors and the victims? families.

Dressed in a white skullcap, grey Muslim shirt, and dark trousers, Mukhlas smiled at reporters as police with automatic rifles escorted him from an armoured vehicle into court at the start of the session. There were few spectators on hand, but Jan Laczynski, an Australian who has attended other sessions, said in Indonesian as the suspect passed: ?Death for you today, Mukhlas.?

The Denpasar district court sent the first two key suspects, Amrozi, Mukhlas?s younger brother, and another Indonesian, Imam Samudra, to death row. A third brother, Ali Imron, received a life sentence after he cooperated with authorities, showed remorse and urged family and followers not to imitate him.

Links with Osama bin Laden?s al Qaeda

Speaking after the verdict, Laczynski said the trial of those responsible for the worst act of terror since the attacks on American cities in 2001 brought some sense of closure.?In many ways this is the most important fortnight for Australia because we will get a sense of closure. The four key players are out of the way now and we look forward to the (memorial) ceremonies on October 12,? he said.

A spokesman in Canberra for Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the government did not plan to protest over the sentence, despite the country having no death penalty.

?The verdict again sends a strong signal to terrorists the world over that the international community will not sit back and allow them to strike with impunity,? the spokesman said. Like other key suspects, Mukhlas was charged with plotting, organising and carrying out the bombings in Kuta, Bali?s tourist hub which for years was the favourite playground for foreign visitors to the world?s most populous Muslim nation.

The court has so far convicted 17 people, out of more than 30 facing trial, for their roles in the bombings. Another trial in Bali on Thursday sentenced Hamzah Baya, accused of hiding Imron in his home after the blasts, to six years in jail.

In a separate case, a court in Makassar convicted a second suspect in a bomb attack on a McDonald?s restaurant last December, jailing him for seven years for hiding key suspects.

During previous court sessions Mukhlas showed no remorse and accused Western leaders of being the real terrorists. He retracted his earlier statements to police, saying they were given under duress after he was tortured.

Jakarta blames the Bali attacks on Jemaah Islamiah, which has links to Osama bin Laden?s al Qaeda.

During the trial, witnesses said Mukhlas was one of Jemaah?s top leaders, a charge he denied. Judges in their summation on yesterday said the defendant met bin Laden in 1987 in Afghanistan, echoing earlier claims by the defendant.

The repentant Imron pleaded on Wednesday for a reduction of his life sentence. An earlier appeal by Amrozi was rejected by the court last month. He has since lodged a second appeal.

Achmad Sukarsono