IT is understandable that the Indonesian authorities wish to take the life of a man who took part in the Bali bombings which killed more than 200 people.

Understandable but not right.

Amrozi bin Nurhasyim - "the smiling bomber" - is a man who welcomed news of his execution like someone who had just seen his six numbers come up on the Lottery.

He has shown not an ounce of remorse for the atrocity which ruined so many lives, and relishes the opportunity of dying for his cause.

By killing him, Indonesia will have its 'eye for an eye' revenge for an act of devastating inhumanity.

But Amrozi knows that his martyrdom will breathe new life into his mission; breeding new terrorists to take his place, and inevitably claiming more innocent lives.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott welcomed Amrozi's conviction but insisted that it is not the place of the British Government to try to persuade Indonesia to review the death sentence.

As a country at the forefront of the war against terror - a battle which depends on hearts and minds being changed - we disagree with Mr Prescott.

We hope that Britain will not turn a blind eye but provide diplomatic support to the attempts by the UK Bali Bombing Victims' Group to stop Amrozi getting his wish.

The familes of the 26 British victims are to mount an appeal against the death sentence and we hope that Indonesia comes to see that it must think again.

Because the only way to wipe the wicked smile off Amrozi bin Nurhasyim's face is to let him live in prison for the rest of his days.

Hello, hello, hello

WE are not in the habit of congratulating birds, but a parrot called Matilda has earned her place in the limelight.

By squawking "Hey, you, come over here" she is thought to have made burglars take flight at her owner's Middlesbrough home.

Only in a town where Ray Mallon is Mayor could a zero tolerance parrot play a part in reducing the crime figures.