Indonesian judges said Ali Ghufron, better known as Mukhlas, had shown no remorse for authorising last October's attacks, which they described as a "crime against humanity".

"The defendant, Ali Ghufron... has been legally and convincingly proven guilty of having, together with others, planned an act of terrorism and also of being in illegal possession of explosives," said Judge Cokorda Raka Suamba.

"We punish the defendant with the death sentence."

Police say Mukhlas is a senior figure in the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) regional terror network and the man who authorised the suicide bombings last October 12.

JI staged the attack on Western holidaymakers in the resort island to avenge violence against Muslims in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

"Allahu Akbar!" (God is greatest!) Mukhlas shouted three times in response to the sentence, rising to face his lawyers and shooting his arms in the air. He said he would appeal "because the law used is not in line with what I believe in."

He is the third Bali bomber to receive a death sentence for the worst act of terror since September 11, 2001 in the United States.

Amrozi, who is a younger brother of Mukhlas, and Imam Samudra are also appealing their sentences despite their professed wish to die as martyrs.

Another brother, Ali Imron, last month escaped a death sentence and was jailed for life after expressing remorse. He has appealed for presidential clemency.

Prosecutors say Mukhlas, 43, helped plan the Bali attack, channelled funds for it and gave Samudra the final approval for the blasts which killed people from 21 countries including 88 Australians.

"Mukhlas, you will never win!" shouted Ashley Stanyer, a relative of an Australian victim from Bendigo, after the appeal was announced.

Another Australian, Jan Laczynski, waved an Australian flag with the photos of several of his country's victims glued to it.

Mukhlas has earlier said he has no regrets over the bombings "because the Jews led by the United States and Israel have already declared war against Muslims."

The five-judge panel, which took turns reading the evidence summary and verdict, "has not found any factor that could alleviate the punishment," Judge Istiningsih said.

She said Mukhlas had never shown remorse for "a crime against humanity."

The judges said Mukhlas had taken part in meetings to plan acts of terrorism including the Bali bombings.

He had also channeled 30,500 dollars and 200,000 Thai baht from another suspect, a Malaysian called Wan Min Wan Mat who is detained in Malaysia, to other suspects to pay for the bombing.

Judges also said Mukhlas had given Samudra the final go-ahead.

Mukhlas has said in another trial that he knew al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden well when they were both fighting in Afghanistan. He has named one of his children Osama.

In his defence plea last month he termed himself a "small-fry terrorist" compared to those he called the big fishes -- the US, British and Israeli leaders.

Prosecutors said Mukhlas took part in a crucial Bangkok meeting in February 2002 at which a decision to hit "soft" targets was taken.

They said he visited Bali at the end of September last year, when he met Samudra and agreed on the targets. On October 5 he again visited the island, watched the bombs being built and "motivated" the two suicide attackers.

When Mukhlas heard of the explosions, according to his indictment, he felt grateful because "the planned purpose has been achieved and had claimed many lives from America's allies, including Australians who died."

Police arrested 34 people for the Bali blasts. Most are on trial and several have received long prison terms.

In a separate court judges sentenced Hamzah Baya to six years for helping Ali Imron escape to East Kalimantan after the blast. He was arrested there in January.