Nigerian police seek dialogue with radical Islamic sect (AFP)

KANO, Nigeria (AFP) – Police in northern Nigeria's city of Maiduguri have called on an extremist Islamic sect blamed for a series of deadly attacks to declare a ceasefire and come to a dialogue.

Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for last week's bombing of the national police headquarters in Abuja, has staged most of its gun and bomb attacks in Maiduguri, the capital of north-eastern Borno state.

Borno state police commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar issued a statement late Thursday asking "members of the public" in the state to "eschew violence, sectarian killings, vandalism."

Although he did not mention Boko Haram by name, Abubakar confirmed to AFP Friday that "it is a peace overture specifically aimed at members of Boko Haram sect."

"The doors for dialogue and constructive criticism with the (Borno) state government remain open," said the statement.

The attempt at dialogue came a day after Nigerian police chiefs met in Abuja following the June 16 bomb attack on the police headquarters.

The sect said the attack was in response to national police chief Hafiz Ringim's remarks that "the days of Boko Haram are numbered".

Newly-elected Borno state governor Kashim Shettima has offered an amnesty to sect members who choose to lay down arms, an overture that won the backing of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Boko Haram had said it was ready to cease fire and enter into talks with the government, setting conditions which included the strict application of Sharia law in 12 predominately Muslim northern states.

But it later recanted, citing Ringim's statement

The sect has been behind a wave of attacks in Maiduguri targeting police and military personnel, community and religious leaders, and politicians.

It has also claimed responsibility for bomb attacks on police stations, churches and a prison.

Yahoo! News

Radical Indonesian cleric faces life in jail

Abu Bakar Bashir, center, faces charges ranging from his alleged links to militant training camps to inciting a terrorist act.Authorities accuse Abu Bakar Bashir of a series of terror-related chargesHis lawyers say prosecutors haven't proven their caseBashir denies the chargesIt's the third terror-related trial of the fiery cleric

Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- Prosecutors in Indonesia demanded a life sentence Monday for radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir for a series of terror-related charges, including planning, attempting, funding and inciting terrorism. Some of the charges carry a maximum penalty of death.

It's the third trial of the fiery Bashir, who was most recently detained in August for suspected links to a militant training camp that was raided by authorities in Aceh in early 2010.

Police have said Bashir and his organization, the Jamaat Tawhid Anshoru or JAT, were involved in setting up the camp, and authorities have said militants were preparing to launch assassination attempts on Indonesian government officials.

Authorities also accuse Bashir of plotting attacks like the 2008 Mumbai, India, assault on hotels and a train station that left hundreds dead in a siege lasting several days.

He denies the charges, and has often said there is a U.S.-led conspiracy to put him behind bars.

One of Bashir's lawyers, Adnan Wirawan, said Monday the call for life in prison is "too harsh for something that the prosecution failed to prove in court. They're aiming too high and I think it's unreasonable and I think the court will be of the same opinion."

In the past, authorities have tried but failed to directly link Bashir to major terror attacks in Indonesia.

In the first two trials, prosecutors tried to directly link him to the 2002 bombings in Bali and the 2003 J.W. Marriott bomb attack in Jakarta. The courts found him guilty of relatively minor charges. He was released in June 2006, after serving 25 months in jail.

Known for his inflammatory rhetoric, Bashir was accused of being the spiritual leader of Indonesia's homegrown terror network, Jemaah Islamiyah, who inspired many of those involved in the bombings.

Bashir's lawyers will begin their closing statement May 25. A ruling is expected within weeks of the conclusion of arguments.

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