Jakarta – A judge yesterday delayed the trial of Indonesia's best-known Islamic militant on charges of inciting violence against Christians, saying the defendant "looked pale".

Laskar Jihad leader Jafaar Umar Thalib faces up to six years in prison for allegedly making a speech in April imploring his followers to ignore a peace agreement in the religiously divided province of Maluku. He is charged with inciting religious violence and insulting the President.

But Judge Mansur Nasution postponed the trial until August 15, citing the portly cleric's ill health. Neither the defence nor prosecutors asked for the postponement and no evidence of sickness was offered.

Instead, Judge Nasution opened the trial by asking Jafaar if he felt ill. When Jafaar said he felt fine, the judge asked him again – then ruled that the defendant did not appear healthy enough to start the trial.

"You look pale," the judge said. "Therefore, it is better that the trial be postponed." In an interview on Wednesday with the Associated Press news agency, Jafaar was in good spirits.