KUTA, Indonesia, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush hailed Wednesday Indonesia's commitment in the war of terror, describing it as a key ally.
"Murder has no place in any religious tradition and must find no home in Indonesia," Bush told a press conference, ending his four-hour stopover in Bali, where al-Qaeda linked Muslim radicals detonated powerful blasts a year ago that killed 202 people, mostly foreign visitors.
Western countries have blamed on Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) regional terror group of being behind the Bali bombings on Oct. 12, 2002, that ripped through two nightspots in Kuta, Bali's famous tourist spot.
Bush praised her Indonesian counterpart Megawati Sukarnoputri's commitment to win the war on terror.
"President Megawati has confronted this evil directly," Bush said. "Under her leadership Indonesia is hunting and finding dangerous killers. America appreciates Indonesia's strong cooperation in the war on terror."
Megawati pledged cooperation with the United States in the pursuit of global peace, while acknowledging that man of her citizens are suspicious on Washington.
"I am pleased to note that both sides were in agreement about the importance of religious tolerance as one of the major pillars of democracy in Indonesia," Megawati said after meeting Bush.
Indonesia has arrested about 100 alleged members of Jemaah Islamiyah since the Bali bombings. Three Muslim militants have been sentenced to death for their major roles in the blasts, while two others were convicted to life imprisonment.
During his brief stopover in Bali, Bush also held talks with five of Indonesia's prominent religious leaders representing Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.
Bush and his entourage took off from Bali later in the afternoon for Canberra, the final stop on his six-nation Asian tour.
Bush's visit sparked protests and criticism from Muslim leaders in Indonesia - home to the world's most Islamic populous nation. Many of them had been critical to U.S. "bias" foreign policy against Muslim nations and tendency to link terrorism with religion.
"We protest Bush's visit, who is coming here to intimidate, particularly regarding the terrorism issue," said Suryaman, chairman of the Muslim-based Justice and Prosperity Party.
Echoing Suryaman's remark came from Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), warning on the United States not to compare terror to any religion.
"We have remind to U.S. should not consider Indonesia as a nest of terrorists because Indonesia itself become a victim of terrorism ... we must be united to deal with it," Muzadi, one of three Muslim leaders who meet with Bush, told reporters.
Muzadi was referring to a string of bombings in the country, including the Bali blasts and the Aug. 5 U.S.-managed J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, leaving 13 people dead.
Indonesian foreign minister Hasan Wirayuda, meanwhile, said Bush has assured the Indonesian authorities a direct access to interrogate terrorist suspect Hambali, accused of plotting a series of bombings in the country, including Bali blasts a year ago.
"The U.S. will allow Indonesian authorities to directly question Hambali and to bring Hambali back to Indonesia," Wirayuda said.
Hambali, alias Riduan Isamuddin, an Indonesian citizen accused of being al-Qaeda's top operative in Southeast Asia, was arrested on Aug. 11 in Thailand, is currently being detained by the U.S. authorities at an undisclosed location.
Bush arrived Bali Wednesday morning for his brief four-hour stopover amid tight security.
Indonesian authorities deployed 5,000 military troops and policemen, six warships, one aircraft carrier and four U.S.-made F-16s jetfighters to assure security for the visiting U.S. president who limited his short stay.
