Nabiha Shahab, Jakarta – Two of the three Muslim militants on death row for involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings said they were sorry for killing fellow Muslims, while insisting their deadly attack had gone according to plan.

In an interview at their remote island prison, taped secretly by national TV channel Lativi, Imam Samudra, 37, and Amrozi, 45, said it was regrettable Muslims were among the 202 killed on the resort island's nightclub attacks.

"Yes, I regret (the Muslim deaths)... I cried," Samudra said in the interview aired on Wednesday night. But he added that he had bowed "in grace" after the blasts were detonated.

Asked why Bali, Samudra said that it was better to hit one place rather than several and Bali "was the best because there are a lot of infidels (non-believers)."

He said had a group of infidels been outside his own house, "I would have blown up my house."

Amrozi also admitted his regret but repeated a joke made in bad taste while being tried in court, answering when asked whether he regretted the attacks that he was sorry "only 200" were killed.

"I am fasting for two months consecutively, it's to prove that I regret that Muslims were killed. Please say I am sorry for the Muslim victims," said the convict, who has in the past apologised to the families of the Muslims killed.

The Islamic militant was dubbed "the laughing bomber" during his trial for his apparent indifference to victims.

Nevertheless, he said the attacks "scenario was as planned." Amrozi said that the Bali attack had promoted the idea of "jihad" and that his death would ensure the popularity of the concept.

"When I was arrested no one knew of jihad... now everyone is talking about it, and this is when I am still alive. Imagine after I am dead," he said.

The three militants are being held at Nusakambangan prison off the south coast of Java island, where they were moved from Bali for security reasons.

Two Lativi staff members posed as relatives of the convicts and accompanied their family members to gain access to the men. They were granted the visit at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in October as part of a normal programme allowing such visits then.

During the visit Samudra gave his mother a will and read it out loud. He said he did not want to be autopsied after he died and did not want "anyone to cry in front of my body."

Indonesia's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the three in August but no date has so far been set for their executions. Their last chance of avoiding a firing squad will be to appeal for clemency from the president, but they have not done so yet and insisted they are willing to die.

The attack on two crowded nightclubs was carried out by the then-al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror group to avenge perceived injustices to Muslims worldwide, although analysts say the two groups are no longer linked.

Amrozi attended planning meetings for the attack and purchased one tonne of explosive chemicals and a van to carry the bomb which shattered the Sari Club.

Samudra attended planning meetings, selected the blast targets in Bali and assigned tasks to the bombers. Most victims were foreign tourists, including 88 Australians.