'Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation. Wherever, whenever and by whomever committed.' The council has urged all member-states to cooperate with the Indonesian authorities in their efforts capture the terrorists.

The attacks came a week after the re-election of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation that is reputed to be a successful democracy in the Islamic world.

In a separate statement, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon recognised 'the steadfast efforts that the Indonesian government has made in bringing to justice perpetrators of past terrorist acts' and expressed confidence 'that these new attacks will be investigated with equal resolve and that those responsible will be prosecuted'.

Last year, Indonesia executed three men convicted of carrying out the 2002 Bali bombings. At a press briefing, Indonesia's UN Ambassador Marty Natalegawa said: 'These people who perpetrated these heinous acts, they may try to run, but they cannot hide, and the law will reach them and they will be brought to justice.'

(Betwa Sharma can be contacted at betwasharma@gmail.com)