An Indonesian court on Thursday found an Islamic militant called Amrozi guilty of the Bali bombing last October and sentenced him to death.

"Amrozi has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of terrorism. We hereby ... hand down the death sentence on Amrozi," said chief judge I Made Karna, to applause inside and outside the court. He described the terror bombing of two crowded nightspots, which killed 202 people, as a "crime against humanity." Amrozi smiled broadly and shook his fists in the air after the sentence. He again smiled and shook his fists in apparent triumph as police led him out of court. The judge said he has seven days to decide whether to appeal.

Amrozi, a 41-year-old car mechanic, had sat patiently through proceedings as Indonesian judges began reading their verdict on his role in last October's attacks on the resort island.

"Allahu Akbar!" [God is greatest] Amrozi shouted six times as he took the defendant's chair facing five judges in red and black robes. His lawyers answered with similar shouts.

Security outside the court in the Bali capital Denpasar was intense following Tuesday's deadly hotel bombing in Jakarta, which has been blamed on the Jemaah Islamiyah group responsible for the Bali attack. About 300 police with sidearms and 250 local guards, carrying traditional curved daggers known as keris, were posted around the court. Cars and motorbikes were banned from the area.

"He has to die, he has caused so much loss for so many people," said Ketut Sari, 55, a member of the Balinese traditional guard. "There are a lot of people who have been suffering, a lot who have no work, people in commerce also have difficulties. He should just be shot."

Amrozi was the first of 34 people to be detained for the bombing of two crowded nightclubs and was the first to go on trial. Other key suspects, including two of his brothers, will also face a verdict in coming weeks. Prosecutors say he attended planning meetings for the attack and bought a tonne of bomb-making chemicals and the van used to carry the largest bomb, which devastated the Kuta tourist belt.

Amrozi has expressed only satisfaction at the death of scores of Western holidaymakers in what he called "dens of vices." Some 20 Australian victims of the blasts or their relatives were in court to see justice done. Among them was Brad Phillips, seven of whose friends from an Australian football team died in the blasts. He himself was injured in the Sari Club bombing.

Asked Amrozi's sentence, Phillips said: "The death penalty for him will perhaps make us feel better." Some 164 Westerners including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians died and scores more were injured. "I am very angry at him [Amrozi]. I hope he gets what he deserves," said 19-year-old Balinese woman Luh Januari, whose father was killed.

Also expected to hear a verdict in coming weeks is the attack's alleged field commander Imam Samudra. Samudra's brother Lulu Jamaluddin was questioned by police after he entered the court. He apparently did not have a tag indicating his bags had been inspected.