SYDNEY, Sept 11 (AFP) - Australia's government should negotiate with the Al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah network rather than allow more killings, the father of one of those killed in the Bali bombing said Saturday.
Brian Deegan, whose son Josh was killed in the October 2002 Bali bombings, said history was full of deals with organisations once deemed "terrorist" outfits.
"I cannot tolerate the fact that there may be more Australians killed -- innocent Australians killed. So why not? Why not try the approach," Deegan told national radio.
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) has been blamed for the Bali blast, last year's bombing of the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta and has been linked to Thursday's bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta, which killed nine.
Deegan, an Adelaide magistrate, is running against Foreign Minister Alexander Downer as an independent in the October 9 general election.