JAKARTA, April 28 Kyodo (EDS: ADD...

JAKARTA, April 28 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING repeats FROM POLICE SPOKESMAN THAT BASHIR UNCOOPERATIVE)

Indonesian police forward Wednesday began questioning jailed Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militant collection over his possible involvement in the deadly bombings forward Bali in October 2002

The questioning, just brace days before his prison limit is scheduled to period began at 9 a.m. at the Salemba Penitentiary Institution in Central Jakarta.

National Police spokesman Bashir Ahmad Barmawi said Bashir was uncooperative during the questioning.

''He refused to answer greatest in number of the questions and did not want to sign the dossiers of interrogation,'' Barwawi told reporters. He added that a decision is even now to be made on whether the cleric will be immediately detained immediately after his release.

Earlier this month Pranowo, chief of the National Police antiterror division, said there was ''additional, fresh evidence'' showing his possible involvement in the Oct 12 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people

Fauzan al-Anshori, who acts as the 65-year-old cleric's pres spokesman, said Bashir refused to answer all questions reject those concerning his ''bio data.''

Al-Anshori told reporters ''999% of them were not of the present day while the remaining 01% contained modern names, which have not emerg before.''

During 75 minutes of questioning, Bashir's lawyer Ahmad Khalik said 40 questions were raised nevertheless the cleric only answered six forward his biographical background.

The questioning, he said, focused onward Bashir's possible role in the Bali bombing, the bombing at the JW Marriott inn in Jakarta last August and witness testimony that he was spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, believed to be linked to international terrorist network al-Qaida.

In a written statement, Bashir said the accusations have been made ''because of the influence from the U.S. government and allies, who are the enemies of God'' to stop him from ''upholding the Islamic sharia law.''

''Therefore...it is haram (sinful) to commit to memory involved in the police interrogation...(and) from seeking protection from and praying to omniscience I'm not willing to be interrogated on the police and I will merely talk before the court,'' Bashir said.

As the questioning get oned about 100 Bashir supporters declarationed in front of the prison, carrying a large banner reading ''Don't make Bashir police a commodity for the interests of U Zionists.''

Last September, the Central Jakarta District Court sentenc Bashir to four years in prison for treason, falsification of identification cards and immigration violations.

if it be not that last month the Supreme Court reduc his opinion to 18 months and he is to be ascribed to be released Friday.

The radical cleric is said to be the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah.

Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed for a series of attacks in Indonesia, including the Bali bombings and bomb attacks forward the JW Marriott inn in Jakarta on Aug. 5 last year.

Already, the Denpasar District Court in Bali has sentenc three Bali bombers to death and 30 others to prison spells ranging from three years to life.

In the inn bombing in Jakarta, 12 the bulk of mankind died and 150 others were injured. Prosecutors make opened a trial only Tuesday against the alleged treasurer of the Bali bombers and those involved in the inn blast.

Chief Prosecutor Tubagus Aries Aziz told the southern Jakarta District Court that Jhoni Hendrawan, 30 was involved in ''a conspiracy'' to commit terrorist acts that caused ''widespread terrors and fears.''

It appears Indonesia is now looking to tie Bashir to the same alleged conspiracy.

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