Indonesia says eight killed in hotel bombings

JAKARTA (Reuters) - A day after bombs ripped through two luxury hotels in Jakarta's main business district, Indonesia's foreign minister said eight people had been killed and 55 injured.

Suicide bombers struck the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, two luxury hotels popular with businessmen and diplomats, in Jakarta's main business district during breakfast on Friday.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told a press conference on Saturday that eight people were killed, including four foreigners and one Indonesian.

"Three have not been identified. Of the dead, we believe that the three we haven't yet identified includes the suicide bombers."

Wirajuda said that 55 people had been injured in the blasts.

Speaking at the same press conference, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said that Nathan Verity, an Australian businessman, and Craig Senger, a Jakarta-based Austrade official, were among the dead.

Smith said there was no official conclusion about what had happened to a third Australian, Garth McEvoy, who had been at the scene of the blast.

Earlier there had been conflicting reports on the number of dead and injured.

Chrysnanda Dwilaksana, Jakarta police spokesman, told Reuters the bombs killed eight people and injured 53. Asked if the figure included the suicide bombers, he said he did not know.

He identified two of the dead as New Zealander Tim Mackay and Australian Nathan Verity.

Mackay's company, Holcim Indonesia, confirmed his death.

The English language Jakarta Post, citing East Jakarta Police Chief Hasanudin, reported nine people died in the attacks, including seven foreign nationals. The Investor Daily said nine died including the bombers.

An official from Indonesia's foreign affairs ministry said that it was proving hard to identify how many victims there were because of the state of the bodies.

Singapore's Straits Times said one of its nationals had died.

(Writing by Sara Webb; Editing by Alex Richardson)