|TOP|Indonesia has delayed the execution of three Christian militants convicted of killing Muslims until after August 17, national police chief Sutanto told reporters late on Friday.

In addition, Pope Benedict had called on Indonesia on Friday to stop the imminent execution, as thousands of Indonesians held a prayer vigil opposing the death penalty.

Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano said on behalf of the Pope that clemency should be granted ‘on humanitarian grounds’ for the three men who were found guilty of leading a Christian mob in an attack which killed more than 200 people during Muslim-Christian clashes in the province’s Poso region.

‘In the name of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, I turn to you again ... in order that an act of clemency might be granted to these three Catholic citizens of your nation,’ a letter addressed to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva were to face a firing squad just after midnight (1700 GMT) on Friday at a secret location in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, a spokesman for the Indonesian attorney general had said.

But Sutanto said he had received a report from provincial police that the executions ‘will be after the 17th, not tonight’.

The country’s national day holiday is on Aug. 17 and police and officials wanted to concentrate on preparing for that, Sutanto said.

The announcement of the delay came after a day of demonstrations against the planned executions by thousands of Indonesians, and a plea by the pope for clemency.

But Sutanto added: ‘This is only a problem of time. The provincial government will decide the execution timeframe. The fastest would be three days (after the 17th).’

|AD|Yudhoyono had rejected the men’s appeals for a pardon last year, but Indonesians had gathered to oppose the execution.

Last March, local and international Catholic groups urged Yudhoyono to reconsider his stance on the three death sentences, but there has been no indication he would intervene.

Muslim-Christian clashes raged in Central Sulawesi from late 1998 to 2001, killing 2,000 before a peace accord took effect.

On Thursday, thousands of Christians held a rally in the Poso town of Tentena to oppose the execution.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide Advocacy Director, Tina Lambert, has said, “We urge the international community to act immediately to stop the execution of these three men. There is substantial evidence to support calls for a re-trial and at a time where relations between different faith communities are tense, we fear these executions will be exploited by those wanting to antagonise the situation.”