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Executions stayed

JAKARTA: Indonesia issued a last-minute stay of execution for three Christian militiamen on death row, but stressed the punishments would still be carried out. The delay on Friday came hours after an appeal by Pope Benedict XVI to Indonesia's President to spare the lives of the men, who were found guilty of killing Muslims in religious clashes in 2000 on Sulawesi island. National police chief Gen. Sutanto said the executions would be carried out after Aug. 20. He said Sulawesi officials had told him the delay was because they were too busy preparing for celebrations to mark Indonesia's independence on Aug. 17. ``This is just a matter of timing,'' Gen. Sutanto told reporters in Jakarta minutes before the men were scheduled to be killed by firing squad. — AP

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