JAKARTA -- Indonesian police said that two suspects in the deadly Christmas Eve church bombings have told police they were trained in a secret camp by Afghanistan's Mujahideen movement, local reports said Saturday.

"They have the ability to assemble bombs as well as shoot," National Police General Engkesman R. Hillep told the Indonesian ****Observer****.

At least 17 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded when a dozen bombs exploded outside churches in six different provinces across the vast Indonesian archipelago.

Authorities have blamed extremist elements linked to the regime of ex-dictator Suharto, who resigned in disgrace in 1998, for planting the bombs to destabilize the democratically-elected government that followed.

One of four detained suspects, identified as Dedi Mulyadi, 31, told police he and an accomplice were members of the Mujahideen between 1990 and 1992, a claim authorities were checking with Interpol, the ****Jakarta Post**** reported.

The accomplice, identified only as Yoyo, was killed when one of five bombs exploded as it was being transported to one of the churches in West Java.

Dedi was seriously injured but survived, and was immediately arrested by police. (DPA)