Indonesia court strikes down Anti-terror law

The decision by the Constitutional Court may also hamper efforts to bring a case against Abu Bakar Bashir, the alleged spiritual leader of al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah, the group blamed for the Bali bombings, and draw international criticism.

The ruling does not annul the Bali verdicts, but dozens of people convicted for the 2002 Bali nightclub blasts that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, were investigated and charged using the law. Three are on death row.

"The use of the law No. 16 2003 contradicts the 1945 constitution," the head of the court, Jimly Asshiddiqie, said in his ruling. The nine judges on the panel ruled five to four against the law.