(For related story see INDONESIA-BALIBOMBERS or [ID:nJKB000907])

Oct 24 - Indonesia said it will execute three Islamic militants -- who were convicted of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people -- in early November. Here are some key dates since the deadly blasts.

Oct 12, 2002: Blasts at the tourist island Bali's Kuta Beach nightclub area kill 202 people, including 88 Australians. Militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) is blamed.

Nov 5: Indonesian police arrest the first suspect, a mechanic called Amrozi from East Java.

Nov 21: Police arrest the alleged chief planner of the bombings, Imam Samudra, a 33-year-old engineer from West Java.

Dec 4: Amrozi's older brother, Mukhlas, a Muslim preacher also known as Ali Ghufron, is arrested in central Java. He is alleged to be the operational chief of JI in Southeast Asia.

May 12, 2003: Amrozi goes on trial, charged with plotting the attacks and buying the explosives. He is dubbed the "smiling bomber" for his expressions of delight during court appearances.

June 2: Imam Samudra goes on trial.

June 16: Mukhlas's trial opens. One week later he retracts all statements, saying he was tortured into confessing.

Aug 7: Tears flow and survivors applaud in court as Amrozi is found guilty and is sentenced to death.

Sept 10: Imam Samudra is found guilty of masterminding the attacks and is sentenced to death.

Oct 2: Mukhlas is sentenced to death. He pleads for a reduction, and says he will appeal.

July 25, 2006: An official from Bali's district attorney's office says the three may be executed in August.

Aug 21: Indonesia delays executions of the three bombers, as defence lawyers plan to request a Supreme Court judicial review.

Sept 12, 2007: The three Bali bombers say they will not seek a presidential pardon after the Supreme Court throws out Amrozi's final appeal.

May 12, 2008: Amrozi remarries his ex-wife, though he is not present at the ceremony.

Aug 6: Lawyers for the three men lodge a legal challenge on Indonesia's method of execution, saying that death by firing squad is inhumane.

Oct 1: The three men celebrate their last Eid al-Fitr in prison and warn that their friends will avenge their deaths.

Oct 20: Indonesia's constitutional court overrules the bombers' petition and upholds the use of firing squad for executions.

Oct 24: Attorney general's office sets execution date for early November.

Source: Reuters

(Writing by Gill Murdoch, Beijing Editorial Reference Unit; Editing by Sara Webb and Sanjeev Miglani

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