MELBOURNE, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has praised the Indonesian authorities following the death of wanted terrorist Noordin Mohammed Top, declaring his killing by police a significant result.
Rudd said this would cause great damage to terror group Jemaah Islamiah (JI), the group responsible for a series of attacks on Australians, including the 2002 Bali bombings.
He said Noordin had been responsible for numerous attacks on Australians in Indonesia.
"This is welcome news and I congratulate the Indonesian security authorities for their success," he told ABC Radio on Friday.
"This has been a very difficult operation over a long period of time and the credit goes to the Indonesians through their security agencies for doing this."
Noordin, regarded as the terrorist mastermind behind a string of attacks, died in a violent police raid on a militant hideout in Central Java Thursday.
Rudd said there was still no room for complacency as JI and al-Qaeda were still alive and well.
"But this is a very significant result. This man was a mass murderer," he said.
"He has been responsible for the murder of Australians and I congratulate the Indonesians on their success."
Rudd said Australia would continue to press Indonesian authorities to maintain the pressure.
"Our relationship with the Indonesian government on counter-terrorism is very strong," he said.
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