Indonesia on terror alert

2006-04-01 09:41

Jakarta - Indonesia said on Saturday that security authorities were on alert following warnings from Australia and the United States of a possible terrorist attack this weekend.

An updated travel advisory issued by the foreign affairs department in Canberra urged Australians against travelling to Indonesia "due to the very high threat of terrorist attack".

"Recent reports suggest Sunday, April 2, 2006, could be a potential date for attack but we emphasise that attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia," the advisory said.

The US embassy also warned Americans in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, of a possible attack against Westerners and Western interests on Sunday.

"We are continuing to increase our vigilance and alertness," presidential spokesperson Andi Mallarangeng told AFP, but did not say whether there was intelligence indicating an imminent attack.

Mallarangeng said Indonesia was cooperating with other countries in fighting terrorism and urged them to share any information on possible attacks in the country with security authorities.

Police could not be reached immediately for comment.

Indonesia has been rocked by a series of deadly attacks blamed on Muslim militants, notably the Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, in 2001 .

- AFP