New York – The State Department expressed concern and disappointment Wednesday at Indonesia's decision to expel a US researcher who work helped expose a network of al-Qaida-linked terrorists.

"We're very concerned about this development," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, according to a transcript of the department's daily briefing.

Sidney Jones, a terrorism expert was ordered out of Indonesia for violating her work permit, according to Indonesian immigration department officials who gave no further details. Jones has claimed that Indonesia's intelligence agency was behind the expulsion order because it considered reports published by her group, International Crisis Group, to be "subversive."

"Ms. Jones is a highly respected policy analyst. We're not aware of any actions by her or other members of her organization that would warrant such a step by Indonesia," Boucher said.

"Such expulsions will be particularly disappointing because this would stand in stark contrast to the impressive progress made by Indonesia in recent years in developing a democratic civil society with freedom of expression," he added.

In 2002, Jones' group released detailed reports on the activities of the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group in Indonesia at a time when the government refused to acknowledge its existence.

Jemaah Islamiyah was blamed for the Oct. 12, 2002, Bali bombings. Police have since arrested scores of its members.

On its Web site, the ICG describes itself as an independent, nonprofit organization working to prevent and resolve conflicts. It is chiefly funded by foreign governments.