Jakarta – The leader of radical Islamist group Jemaah Islamiyah was prohibited from visiting convicted Bali bombers at Batu prison, Nusakambangan island, Monday.

Abubakar Ba'asyir arrived at the Wijayapura pier in Cilacap at 10:30 a.m., requesting permission from local guards to cross to the island to visit the Bali bombers and other terrorists at various prison complexes.

The Bali bombers – Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra – are waiting execution, which the government said would be carried out after the Idul Fitri holiday.

The local guards turned down the request saying Ba'asyir did not have the necessary paper work to visit inmates on death row. Permission is needed from the local and provincial level of Law and Human Rights Department.

The rejection caused tension between the guards and Ba'asyir's disciples accompanying him that day. However, Ba'asyir said he could understood the guards' reasons.

"I accept and understand the procedure of visiting inmates on death row as implemented by the law and the human rights department," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

At 12:30 p.m, Ba'asyir and his followers sailed to Nusakambangan island to visit other convicted terrorists. (and)