Indonesian court hears Bali bombers plea

Indonesia's Constitutional Court began hearing a plea by three Islamic militants, known as the Bali bombers, who are challenging the method of capital punishment.

Indonesia's Constitutional Court on Thursday began hearing a plea by three Islamic militants, known as the Bali bombers, who are challenging the method of capital punishment in a bid to delay their execution.

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Lawyers for the three men -- Imam Samudra, Amrozi and Mukhlas, also known as Ali Gufron -- who are on death row for the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people, lodged a legal challenge earlier this month, saying that Indonesia's method of executing convicts by firing squad was inhumane.

"The appellants, as Indonesian citizens, have constitutional rights, which are not to be tortured," Wirawan Adnan, one of the lawyers representing the bombers, told the court.

The lawyers also asked for the executions to be postponed until the court has reached a verdict.

Attorney General Hendarman Supandji said in July that the execution could happen before the start of Muslim fasting month in early September after the men had exhausted all their legal options.