Muslim extremist group Laskar Jihad (Jihad Warrior) on Monday condemned a series of Christmas Eve bombings at churches across Indonesia which left 14 dead and scores injured.
"The Jihad Warrior strongly condemns the bombings that occurred in several churches," the well-trained paramilitary group said in a statement, a copy of which was received by AFP.
"The bombings clearly exhibited a well-organized action conducted by immoral and irresponsible actors," it said.
The Jihad Warrior, which is heavily involved in the Muslim-Christian conflict in Indonesia's Maluku islands, said the attacks could not be justified as far as "the principles of law, religion and humanity" are concerned.
It urged the country's security forces to "initiate a comprehensive investigation" into the bombings and appealed to followers of all religions not to fall prey to "terrorist provocation."
"The bombing occurrences were obviously backgrounder by political nuances, the Jihad Warrior, in this regard, has no involvement in national political maneuvers," the English-language statement said.
The militants have been blamed for a sharp escalation of the two-year-long conflict between Muslims and Christians in the Malukus islands, which has left more than 5,000 people of both faiths dead.
No one has claimed responsibility for the Christmas Eve blasts which went off almost simultaneously in seven cities across the country. Fifteen more bombs were defused.
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, a moderate Muslim, on Monday condemned the blasts and said he believed they were carried out to destabilize his government -- JAKARTA (AFP)
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