Authorities in Indonesia say they have uncovered evidence that Islamic militants captured in a series of recent raids had planned to kill President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters in Jakarta Friday the militants planned to declare a Muslim state after killing Mr. Yudhoyono, state officials and foreign guests during an independence day celebration on August 17.
Danuri said the militants also planned to seize several luxury hotels in Jakarta and Java island and kill foreigners, including Americans. The hotel attacks would be similar to the November 2008 siege of hotels in Mumbai that killed 166 people.
The police chief says the plots were uncovered during a series of raids across Indonesia since February, when a terrorist training facility was discovered in the Sumatran island province of Aceh.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
