DNA tests in Indonesia confirm death of terrorist Noordin Top

Jakarta, Sep. 19 (ANI): Indonesian police said today the DNA test on the body of a man shot dead in an operation in Solo on Thursday matched that of wanted militant Noordin Mohd Top.

"It's a 100 per cent match... from the fingerprints to the DNA tests," detikcom website quoted Indonesian police spokesman Nanan Soekarna as saying.

Indonesian police chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri had earlier confirmed that Noordin was shot dead in the raid but asked the forensic department to carry out the tests.

The report also said that Noordin's family in Johor, Malaysia, had been informed of the test result.

The 41-year-old Malaysian-born extremist was one of four militants killed in the raid near Solo, national police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters.

The terrorist, who was on the run for almost seven years, was identified using fingerprint analysis, Danuri said.

"He is Noordin M Top," Danuri said, sparking a round of applause throughout the room.

Noordin led a hardline splinter group of terror organisation Jemaah Islamiah.

He was the suspected mastermind of July"s attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta that killed seven, including three Australians.

Authorities believe he also masterminded a 2003 attack on the Marriott, a 2004 attack on Australia"s embassy in Jakarta and the 2005 Bali bombings that killed four Australians.

It"s believed he also helped plan the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.Police came close to catching Noordin several times but he always managed to elude capture.

Noordin"s death will be a major setback for Islamic extremists throughout Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd"s office said it was aware of reports of Top"s death.

"We are awaiting official confirmation from the Indonesian government," Fairfax News quoted a spokesman, as saying. (ANI)