A Cal State graduate from Malaysia has led authorities to conclude that a Muslim cleric from Indonesia ran terror operations for Al Qaeda in Southeast Asia and played a role in the Sept. 11 skyjackings. Malaysian officials said Yazid Sufaat has cooperated with authorities since he was arrested Dec. 9 as he returned from Afghanistan. Sufaat identified the alleged regional terrorism chief as Riduan Isamuddin, who is also known as Hambali. Sufaat also is helping them unravel the logistics and operations of a network. Hambali left Malaysia shortly before Sept. 11. Officials believe he returned to Indonesia, home to another cleric who authorities in Malaysia and Singapore say is the network's spiritual leader, Abu Bakar Bashir.
This puts a few more pieces in the puzzle. Indonesia's a likely spot for operations, with a government that's scared of its fundos and a military that's not under its control. |