JAKARTA, 08 September 2006 - Indonesia demanded access to alleged Asian terror chief Hambali after receiving confirmation from Washington that he was alive and being detained somewhere in the United States, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday. The whereabouts of Hambali, once dubbed Osama bin Laden's point man in the region, had not been disclosed since he was taken into U.S. custody three years ago.

Indonesia was told after U.S. President George W. Bush acknowledged the existence of previously secret CIA prisons that the Indonesian terror suspect was alive and being held in the United States, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Desra Percaya. A similar request came from the Office of Coordinating Minister for Politic, Law and Security Affairs, which demanded that the U.S. return Hambali to Indonesia.

"Indonesia wants the U.S. to return Hambali home. We need information about his terrorist activities and other criminal activities here," head of Office's Anti-Terror Desk Ansyaad Mbai, was quoted by Antara news agency as saying Monday. Hambali was arrested in Ayutthaya, Thailand, on Aug. 11, 2003, and handed over to the U.S. Hambali, originally from Cianjur regency, West Java, is accused of involvement in terrorist activities in Indonesia.

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