DEATH TOLL OF JAKARTA EXPLOSIONS RISES TO NINE

Jakarta, July 17 (ANTARA) - The death toll of Friday morning's explosions at the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in central Jakarta has risen to nine while 41 people were injured, police said.

Head of the National Police's Public Relations Division Inspector General Nanang Sukarna said here on Friday eight people were killed on the spot at the JW Marriott Hotel and two at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, while one died at the Medistra Hospital.

The injured, including at least 16 foreigners, were admitted to Pertamina Hospital (one person), the Jakarta Hospital (10), the Motropolitan Medical Center (MMC) Hospital (12), and the Medistra Hospital (2), he said.

The scenes of the two explosions were tightly guarded by a number of policemen. At least nine ambulances and two fire brigade trucks were still on guard at JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels.

Police intelligence and bomb squad personnel were still investigating the cause of the explosions.

The explosions in the two hotels in the Kuningan area were heard twice, namely at around 7.50 am and at 7.55 am local time, Friday.
Ritz-Carlton Hotel was scheduled to accommodate 90 members of the Manchester United (MU) football club of Britain, who were expected to arrive in Jakarta on Saturday evening (July 18).

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo and National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri visited the scenes of the explosions.

The Marriott Hotel was bombed by terrorists before, namely on August 5, 2003. Twelve people, including a Dutch national, were killed and 147 others wounded.