VP CONFIRMS TOP TERRORIST'S DEATH

Jakarta, March 10 (ANTARA) - Vice President Boediono on Wednesday confirmed the death of top terrorist Dulmatin in a police raid last Tuesday (March 9) in Pamulang, Tangerang.

Born in 1970, Dulmatin was believed to have been one of the masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings which claimed 202 lives, mostly foreigners.

"One of the three terrorist shot to death during the Tuesday raid in Pamulang is Dulmatin. The National Police has identified the body with a DNA test," the vice president said during a press conference here on Wednesday.

Boediono expressed appreciation to the police and other parties who had helped protect the country from terrorist acts.

An Indonesian Densus-88 anti-terror police unit last Tuesday (March 9) raided two places in Pamulang, South Tangerang, near Jakarta, killing three terror suspects.

Head of the National Police headquarters` information division, Insp Gen Edward Aritonang, said the police also arrested three other terror suspects during the raids.

He said the first raid was conducted at 11.30 am on an Internet outlet at the Puri Pamulang shophouse complex on Jalan Siliwangi No.6 in Pamulang, south Tangerang city.

"The suspect with his initial YI alias M was shot dead after he opened fire at police. Police also took into custody a women with three children because they were at the location during the raid," Aritonang said.

YI alias M was believed to be Dulmatin.

Besides shooting dead one terror suspect on Jalan Siliwangi, the police at 12.20 am also shot dead two other terror suspects at Jalan Setiabudi No.15, also in Pamulang, South Tangerang city or several kilometers from the first raided scene.

Aritonang said the two dead suspects from Jalan Setiabudi were identified as R and H, while two others known by their initials as BR alias AH and SB alias I were arrested.