Alleged terror group leader Abu Bakar Bashir was handed over to prosecutors by Indonesian police today in preparation for his trial, but Bashir’s lawyer said charges of masterminding a deadly anti-Christian bombing spree have been dropped. Police had earlier accused Bashir of planning the Christmas Eve 2000 bombing attacks on churches and priests, which killed 19 people. But they had now dropped the charges over a lack of evidence, said Bashir’s lawyer Mohammad Assegaf. Assegaf said Bashir will be charged with treason based on an alleged plot to assassinate Megawati Sukarnoputri when she was still vice-president, and with immigration offences. National police spokesman Edward Aritonang declined comment when asked if the Christmas bombing charges had been dropped from the police evidence file handed over to prosecutors. Full Story