JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - A suspected Muslim militant went on trial Wednesday on charges of beheading three Christian girls in a religiously inspired attack on Indonesian's tense Sulawesi island.
Hasanuddin is the first of three men accused in the slayings last year due to stand trial.
Speaking before the trials opened, the mens' lawyer said all three had admitted involvement in the crimes, which he said were aimed at avenging Muslim deaths in fighting on Sulawesi from 1998 to 2002 that left at least 1,000 people from both faiths dead.
Muanas also revealed the contents of a note the attackers left at the site of the slayings on a quiet jungle track leading to the town of Poso in central Sulawesi province.
"We need 100 more (killings) like this," the letter raid, said Muanas, who goes by a single name.
The men are charged under Indonesia's anti-terrorism law and could be sentenced to death if found guilty.
Prosecutors began reading out their indictment against Hasanuddin, who said nothing as he arrived at court.
Large scale clashes between the two faiths ended in 2002 with a peace agreement, but sporadic attacks - mostly by suspected Muslim militants on Christian men, woman and children - have continued.
Tensions flared anew last month after the execution of three Roman Catholic militants convicted of leading a 2000 attack on an Islamic school that killed at least 70 people.
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, with 90 percent of its 220 million people professing the faith. But Central Sulawesi has a roughly equal number of Muslim and Christians.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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