Australian Prime Minister John Howard promised on Wednesday that his government will place as much pressure as it can on Indonesia to make sure those responsible for the Bali bombings remain in jail.

Howard said he is disappointed that one of the key bombers has escaped punishment for the Bali bombings, which killed 202 people,including 88 Australians in 2002.

Howard was reacting to an Indonesian court decision to drop charges against self-confessed Bali bomber Idris because of a constitutional court ruling that the anti-terrorism laws, passed after the Bali bombings, can not apply retrospectively.

Idris, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail for another terrorist attack, was at most of the key planning meetings for the Bali bombings.

"Now we will continue to put all the legitimate pressure we can on the Indonesian government to make certain that these people remain in jail, remain punished and remain fully accountable before the law," Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

"I can promise the families of the victims that no stone will be left unturned by my government to see that these people remain behind bars," he said.

Meanwhile, Australian Opposition leader Mark Latham said the government should apply pressure on Jakarta.

"Hopefully the Australian Government will be using all its diplomatic pressure and representations to the Indonesians to get justice," he told Radio 3AW, adding all Australians want them to feel the full weight of the law.

Source: Xinhua