AUSTRALIANS have spoken of their pain and distress at the release of militant Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir after 25 months in jail for giving his blessing to the 2002 Bali bombings.
Prime Minister John Howard sent a message to Indonesians that Australia was extremely disappointed that Bashir was today a free man.
"I want them to understand from me, on behalf of the Government, how extremely disappointed, even distressed, millions of Australians will be at the release of Abu Bakar Bashir," he told Parliament.
"Many Australians will see that particular outcome, although a product of the Indonesian justice system, as an extremely disappointing result."
Indonesian politician Muhammad Hikam revived claims Bashir may have got a longer term if the United States had granted Jakarta access to senior al-Qaeda operative Riduan Isamuddin Hambali, who is believed to be the mastermind of the Bali bombings and has been linked to Bashir.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer promised the families of the 88 Australians killed in the 2002 blasts that the Federal Government shared their pain over Bashir's release.
"We ... accept the decisions of the Indonesian courts, but we are deeply disappointed with that release today and we share the pain with those families that suffered so much as a result of the Bali bombing," Mr Downer told Parliament.
Wearing a white skull cap, grey suit and red checked scarf, the bespectacled 68-year-old today walked out of Jakarta's main prison and into the arms of hundreds of jubilant militant supporters.
The firebrand cleric was arrested in 2004 for giving blessings as emir, or leader, of the Jemaah Islamiah terror network to the Bali attacks which killed 202 victims.
Families of the victims were unsurprisingly upset that Bashir was now free.
Brian Deegan, who lost his son Joshua, said he was dismayed over Bashir's release but accepted it was inevitable.
"(But) it doesn't take away the hurt, the anguish, the disgust (and) the dismay," he said.
Monica Sanderson, who lost her son Greg in the attack, was trying to avoid news of Bashir's release.
"I don't even want to know about it because it can't bring Greg back," she said.
"I feel we cope better if we just turn it off and just turn away ... just putting all that horror behind us and just trying to think of Greg as he was."
But Dr Hikam, leading a political delegation to Australia, stresses Bashir's relatively light sentence is not Jakarta's fault.
He blamed the US for preventing Indonesia access to Hambali.
"Had we have more evidence that's still withheld by the United States Government then probably we can have much more satisfied proceeding," Dr Hikam said.
"If we still lacking in evidence then we cannot do anything.
"If the US release in a proper manner Hambali and (Omar) Farouk and others then probably this is going to be very different."
Hambali was arrested by Thai authorities in 2003 but was handed over to the US, which has refused Indonesia access to the terrorist believed to be the mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings.
Labor has suggested Indonesia put Bashir under 24 hour watch to ensure he can't be involved in further terrorist attacks.
"We hope that he's put under 24 hour surveillance by the Indonesians so that he can be permitted no further mischief," Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said.
But is hopeful he will be hamstrung by a UN decision to list him as a terrorist, forcing Indonesia to place severe restrictions on his finances, travel and access to weapons.
"Those restrictions will severely limit any capacity Abu Bakar Bashir might have to commit harm," Mr Downer said.
, 68, the accused spiritual leader of  a  organisation with links to Al-Qaeda has been released from an Indonesian prison after serving his 25 month sentence.

Bashir was convicted for conspiracy, in connection with the . Bashir was accused of playing a pivotal role in planning the attack which killed 202 people, 88 of whom were from Australia. The Judges ruled that he was not involved in the attacks, but had approved of it. 

Bashir has denied having links to JI or any other militant organisation and has denied all charges against him. He has also condemned the Bali bombing as a "brutal act".

As Bashir was released from  prison in Jakarta, he was greeted by hundreds of supporters who yelled, "God is great". Bashir gave a brief address to his supporters, thanking  for his freedom, vowing to uphold "Islamic sharia (law)" and said Indonesia needed to the law and was shrouded "in darkness".

The Australian government has expressed its disappointment at the release of Mr Bashir. Speaking before the Australian House of Representatives,  John Howard said "I want them (the Indonesian government) to understand from me, on behalf of the Government, how extremely disappointed, even distressed, millions of Australians will be at the release of Abu Bakar Bashir," he said.

"Many Australians will see that particular outcome, although a product of the Indonesian justice system, as an extremely disappointing result."

Australia's foreign minister,  assured the families of those killed in the attacks that the government shares their pain. "We ... accept the decisions of the Indonesian courts, but we are deeply disappointed with that release today and we share the pain with those families that suffered so much as a result of the Bali bombing," Mr Downer said.

The United States has also expressed dismay at Bashir's release. Speaking in Jakarta, US embassy spokesman Max Kwak said, "we were deeply disappointed that a person convicted of a sinister conspiracy was given such a short prison sentence".

Muhammad Hikam, an Indonesian politician claimed Bashir would have got a longer term if Indonesia was given access to  by the United States who have him imprisoned. Hambali is believed to be mastermind of the Bali bombings and is alleged to have links to Bashir.