Prime Minister John Howard promised no mercy for the...

Prime Minister John Howard promised no mercy for the Bali bombers. Mr Howard even signalled he might overturn his long-held opposition to the death penalty. "I am normally opposed (to the death penalty), yes, that is my normal view; (but) this is anything but a normal position," he said. Those convicted of the bombing face death by firing squad under an emergency anti-terrorism decree signed by Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Asked whether Australia would push for the death penalty for the perpetrators, Mr Howard said: "I don't think Australia will want much mercy being shown to them." It emerged last night that Australia could try to extradite suspects. Superintendent Graham Ashton, who is heading the hunt, said an agreement signed between Australia's and Indonesia's police commissioners gave them powers to conduct a joint investigation of the bombing for three years. "We could (extradite suspects), whether we do or not will be subject to negotiation," he said.