.
Also accused of being a key JI leader with alleged links to Al-Qaeda is 64-year-old Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who runs an Islamic boarding school in Central Java. .
Bashir denies any terrorist links, but he has praised bin Laden and is believed to support efforts to create a pan-Islamic state encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia and the southern Philippines. .
Indonesian authorities claim they don't have enough evidence, or sufficiently tough legislation, to detain him. .
Bashir has filed a lawsuit against Singapore for linking him to terrorism. South Jakarta District Court this week began hearing the libel suit, but the case has been adjourned indefinitely as Singapore's ambassador - called on to represent the island state - enjoys diplomatic immunity. .
USA Today, Indonesia Tomorrow? .
The USA Today daily on Wednesday (20/3/02) quoted unnamed "intelligence sources" as saying that "dozens" of Al-Qaeda members had fled from Afghanistan and were regrouping safely in Indonesia. .
"Some have come by air, but most have sneaked into Pakistan, then traveled several thousand miles in fishing boats from Arabian Sea ports," the daily said. .
The front-page report by Jonathan Weisman said the Pentagon wants to send troops to Indonesia, but was facing opposition from President Megawati Sukarnoputri's government as it was "fearful of rising anger among its 200 million Muslims". .
The report also pointed out that US Congress would not resume military ties with Indonesia until the government "improves the military's human rights record and brings to justice military officers responsible for the [East Timor] slaughter in 1999". .
There has been speculation the report was merely an effort to "test the water" to see how Jakarta would react to any US plans to send troops to help fight terrorists allegedly in Indonesia. .
Denial .
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer strongly denied the US was planning an operation in Indonesia.
