Indonesia bomb casualty toll causes confusion

JAKARTA (Reuters) - A day after bombs ripped through two luxury hotels in Jakarta's main business district there were conflicting reports on the number of dead and 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.

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.

Apart from Verity, Australian media said two other nationals had died in the blast, Garth McEvoy and Craig Senger.

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

(Reporting by Sara Webb and Telly Nathalia in Jakarta; Editing by David Fox)