Bali bombers' final appeal fails

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Indonesia's Supreme Court has rejected the final appeals of two Islamist militants convicted over the 2002 bomb attacks on the holiday island of Bali.

Imam Samudra and Mukhlas, or Ali Gufron, sought to overturn a decision that they be executed by firing squad.

A court official said the men had provided no new evidence to challenge earlier verdicts. An appeal by a third man, Amrozi, has already been rejected.

More than 200 people died in the Bali nightclub bombings on 12 October 2002.

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

Key figures

The three men were sentenced to death in 2003.

They were convicted under anti-terror laws that came in after the Bali attacks, and their lawyers had argued that they were found guilty on the basis of retroactive legislation.

Amrozi is known as the 'smiling bomber'

But Supreme Court spokesman Nurhadi told journalists that judges had ruled against Mukhlas and Imam Samudra on 23 August and 19 September respectively.

An appeal by Mukhlas' younger brother, Amrozi, was rejected earlier this month.

The three could now make a plea for clemency to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but they have said they will not do this.

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 was seen as the mastermind behind the attacks, while Imam Samudra was described by police as the "field commander".

No date has been set for the death sentences to be carried out.