Mr Rudd made the remarks as Australian media reacted with outrage to statements by the bombers at their prison Wednesday during an event marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The bombers laughed for the cameras and told reporters they had no remorse over the 2002 attacks on the holiday island which killed 202 people, 88 of them Australians.

'If the execution is carried out, that will constitute the biggest criminal act because they will be killing holy warriors,' said Mukhlas, who faces a firing squad along with fellow militants Amrozi and Imam Samudra.

'The Bali bombers describe themselves as holy warriors. I say the Bali bombers are cowards and murderers pure and simple and frankly they can make whatever threats they like,' Mr Rudd told Australian radio.

'They deserve the justice that will be delivered to them.'

Plans to execute the men before Ramadan were shelved over a delay in paperwork and a revised date has not yet been set.

Australia does not use the death penalty and the government has at times intervened in efforts to prevent the execution of Australians abroad, but there have been no attempts to save the three from being put to death.

Asked whether he would seek forgiveness from the families of Western victims, Imam Samudra said: 'I don't ask for forgiveness from infidels, I only ask for forgiveness from Muslims.'

Asking for forgiveness for one's past sins is a tradition during Eid in Indonesia.

The statements provoked the headline: 'Final insult, Bali bomber's last words: I'll never regret it', in the Daily Telegraph.

The Australian headlined its report: 'Bali bombers still laughing'. -- AFP