JAKARTA - ISLAMIC extremists rallied in the Indonesian capital on Thursday against the imminent execution of three Bali bombers, as defence lawyers demanded the families be allowed a final visit.

Chanting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greater), some 100 militants descended on the offices of the national human rights body as the bombers' lawyers met officials inside to demand access for the families.

The radicals condemned the executions, believed to be hours or days away, and praised bombers Amrozi, 47, his brother Mukhlas, 48, and Imam Samudra, 38, as 'holy warriors'.

Defence lawyer Mahendradatta urged the human rights body, Komnas Ham, to back the families' demand for visiting rights.

Komnas Ham chairman Ifdhal Kasim said the prisoners had a right to meet their families before they faced the firing squad.

'A prisoner awaiting execution must be given a chance to meet their families', he said, promising to take up the matter with the prosecutors office which handles executions.

Meanwhile the families wrote to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pleading for a delay in the executions, defence lawyer Fahmi Bachmid said.

He said however that the letter was not a request for clemency. The bombers have said they want to die to become 'martyrs' for their dream of creating an Islamic utopia across South-east Asia.

'We don't know the contents of the letter. The families only told me that they hope the execution will be postponed until the president gives an answer to the letter', he said.

The bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002 killed more than 200 people, mostly foreign tourists.

The government has said the condemned men will be executed by firing squad in 'early November' after they exhausted the appeals process. -- AFP

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