Bashir says Indonesian court ruling 'blow to West'

JAKARTA, Dec 22 (Reuters) Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir said today that a court ruling clearing him of any part in the 2002 Bali bombings was a blow to the West and served as a warning that Western attempts to subjugate Indonesia would fail.

Indonesia's Supreme Court yesterday overturned Bashir's conviction for conspiracy in the bombings on the resort island, which killed 202, most of them foreign tourists. Australia, which lost 88 nationals in the attack, reacted angrily to the ruling.

''This is evidence that even though all this time the West think that they can subjugate Indonesia, there are still some Muslims and Indonesians who have the courage to convey the truth,'' Bashir told Elshinta radio in a telephone interview.

Bashir, 68, was released in June after completing a 30-month jail sentence for being part of a conspiracy behind the nightclub bombings.

''I hope the West will open their eyes and if they remain adamant, there will be heavier blows. This is a blow and warning for the West,'' he said.

Bashir has consistently denied any connection to the Bali bombings or other attacks. He says that Western governments orchastrated his incarceration because of his campaign for Islamic law in predominantly-Muslim Indonesia.

Western and regional intelligence officials say Bashir was the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah, a Southeast Asia militant group blamed for the Bali bombings and a string of other deadly attacks in Indonesia in recent years.

The cleric said he had not decided whether to demand compensation for the time he had spent in jail. ''I have no grudge because vengeance is forbidden in Islam.'' He also said was not keen on demanding that his name be rehabilitated. ''Allah has already rehabilitated my name,'' he said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he was upset on behalf of the families of victims, but was powerless to intervene.

''He's going to kill more people without even thinking about it. I just cannot believe that they've said he's guilty of nothing. It's disgusting,'' said Australian Dave ''Spike'' Stewart, whose son Anthony died in the Bali attacks.

Western nations, especially Australia, previously protested against what they regarded as lenient treatment of Bashir by the judiciary.

REUTERS MS RK0945