AUSTRALIAN PM STANDS BY BALI BOMBER DEATH PENALTY

the Australian prime minister, John Howard, says it would be 'very bad' if the convicted Bali bombers weren't executed. Indonesia's death penalty laws are being challenged in the country's Constitutional Court. Three bombers are facing execution for their part in the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. Prime Minister Howard has reiterated that he won't oppose the death penalty when it involves terrorists, but he is not being inconsistent. "I personally don't support capital punishment in Australia and it follows from that that whenever an Australian is sentenced to death overseas I'll argue for the remission of the sentence," he said. The parents of convicted drug courier Scott Rush say Australia needs to take a lead role against capital punishment to avoid confusion internationally.