Indonesia prisoner makes first public appearance at Gitmo

In this photo released by Indonesian National Police on Aug. 21, 2003, Southeast Asian terror mastermind Hambali is shown. Encep Nurjaman, who's known as Hambali, an Indonesian held for nearly 10 years at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has appeared for the first time at a hearing called to determine whether he should remain in detention. (Indonesian National Police via AP) (The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON – An Indonesian held for nearly 10 years at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has appeared for the first time at a hearing called to determine whether he should remain in detention.

The U.S. government says the detainee — Encep Nurjaman, who's known as Hambali — was a leader of a Southeast Asia-based extremist group known as Jemaah Islamiyah (jeh-MAH' is-lah-MEE'-uh) that's blamed for a string of bombings in Indonesia.

Hambali also is alleged to have had links to al-Qaida.

He's been held at Guantanamo since September 2006 and hasn't been seen publicly there until Thursday's review panel hearing.

The panel heard a statement read by a U.S. military officer acting as Hambali's personal representative. The panel issued no decision on Hambali's status.