Australia approves convicting of Indonesia

Australian foreign minister said Indonesian courts have struck a blow against terrorism on Wednesday by sentencing a second Islamic militant to death over a suicide bombing at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in 2004.

The accused, Achmad Mohamed Hasan, has claimed that the South Jakarta District Court's verdict was a result of pressure from the United States, which has publicly supported the struggle against terrorism in the world's most populous Muslim nation.

On Tuesday, the same court sentenced to death Hasan's fellow militant, Iwan Darmawan, also known as Rois, for helping plan and carry out the attack that killed 10 people and wounded nearly 200 others on September 9 last year.

• Also read: 'bin Laden financed Australian embassy blast'

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Wednesday's conviction showed Indonesia's determination to fully prosecute those involved - directly or indirectly- in terrorism.