Bali bombers launch final appeal

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Three Muslim militants jailed for the 2002 Bali bombings have launched a last appeal against their death sentences.

Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra are seeking to overturn a Supreme Court decision that they be executed by firing squad.

Their lawyers say they plan to argue that the men were found guilty on the basis of retroactive legislation.

The 12 October 2002 nightclub bombings, in Bali's Kuta tourist district, killed 202 people, 88 of them Australians.

More than 30 people have been jailed for the attack, which was blamed on the South East Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah.

The three men were due to face the firing squad in August, but their execution was postponed so that they could file an appeal.

Major roles

Their appeals have been filed through Denpasar district court in Bali, where they were originally convicted.

Court officials said a panel of judges was being assembled to consider the request for a review.

Defence lawyers say they are basing their appeal on a ruling by the Indonesian Constitutional Court in 2004 that new laws cannot be applied retroactively.

The three men were convicted under anti-terror laws that came in after the 2002 bombing in Bali.

Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra were found guilty of major roles in the attacks - and all three have already confessed to their involvement.

Amrozi, dubbed the "smiling bomber" for his lack of remorse, was found guilty of helping plan and carry out the attacks.

Mukhlas (also known as Ali Gufron) was seen as the mastermind behind the attacks, while Imam Samudra was described by police as the "field commander".