United Nations soldiers believe they have uncovered mass graves in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where hundreds of civilians executed by Rwandan soldiers were buried. The discovery threatens to destroy Rwanda's image as a country that recovered from genocide to become one of east Africa's most benign and stable regimes. The graves contain bodies thought to belong to Rwandan Hutu refugees and villagers killed by the Tutsi-led Rwandan army and the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo Zaire (AFDL), a Congolese rebel group, in 1996.The soldiers discovered the grave near Rutshuru, 50 miles north of Goma in the east, while they were digging for latrines. The Indonesian government shrugged off international calls to outlaw Jemaah Islamiyah ­ doing so could trigger opposition from Muslim groups and political parties ­ saying the group's elusive nature would make it difficult to ban. Imron said Azahari might have travelled to Bali to supervise the operation "So far, Azahari always observes," he said. He did not recognise photographs of the three bombers, whose severed heads were found at the scene of the blasts.

"It seems they could be people freshly recruited." In an unexpected intervention, Abu Bakr Bashir, the elderly Indonesian cleric imprisoned for his role in the 2002 attacks, condemned the bombings but added that they were a sign of God's displeasure with the Indonesian government. "I very much disagree with any bombings, regardless of the reasons, in non-conflict areas, which are aimed at sacrificing the innocent," said Bashir. The organisation, experts say, has been hit by a series of arrests in recent years, but may have formed alliances with other organisations or individuals. They have also found pellets, cables and detonators, as well as scraps of clothing, a sandal and a wallet believed to belong to the bombers. Investigators say the bombs may have been triggered by mobile phones. Mr Soenarko said Azahari, who received a doctorate from Reading University after studying in Australia, and another Malaysian fugitive, Noordin Mohamed Top, were prime suspects in the inquiry.

"After the recent incidents our hunt for them has been stepped up," he said. Ali Imron, whose two older brothers, Amrozi and Mukhlas, are on death row, told the Indo Pos that the perpetrators were "those same people" as last time. Asked whom he meant, he replied: "Who else if not the group of Dr Azahari?" He said the modus operandi was characteristic of the Malaysian, as were the nine-volt batteries found at the sites. "The use of nine-volt batteries is a trademark of Azahari," he said "It could be Azahari's new recruits.