Australia protests release of Indonesian cleric

CANBERRA, June 15 (Reuters) Australian Prime Minister John Howard wrote to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono today to protest against the decision to free a radical Islamic cleric jailed for links to the 2002 Bali bombings.

Abu Bakar Bashir, seen by the west as the spiritual leader of the Jemaah Islamiah militant network, was released yesterday after serving time for being part of a conspiracy behind the Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

Howard said he told Yudhoyono in the letter that he was was disappointed and concerned by the decision to free the radical cleric.

''His release, and the inflammatory statements that he has made in support of extremism since he has been released, have been deeply offensive, especially to the families of the men and women of this country who died in the Bali attack in October 2002,'' Howard told Australian parliament.

''The Indonesian government should understand the deep anger in the Australian community and our sense of concern about what has happened.'' Bashir told jubilant supporters to join forces for the spread of Islamic law, as he emerged from a Jakarta prison.

Indonesian authorities said Bashir's jail sentence and release were dictated by courts.

The latest row came ahead of a planned summit between Howard and Yudhoyono, set for June 26 in Indonesia to improve ties after Jakarta protested against Australia granting asylum to 42 people from Indonesia's restive Papua province.

Howard said he had also urged Yudhoyono to monitor Bashir's activities, and to comply with United Nations Security Council resolution to freeze Bashir's assets, restrict his travel and access to weapons.

Howard said Australia remained committed to working with Indonesia to fight terrorism.

REUTERS SRS DS1145