Australian PM staunch after Jakarta attack

By GREG ANSLEY

CANBERRA - Prime Minister John Howard says Australia will not be intimidated by terrorism after the car bomb that exploded outside its embassy in Jakarta killed at least eight people and injured nearly 100.

The blast ripped through the security gates at the embassy as Australia's political leaders campaigned for the October 9 election, which was the subject of a warning last week of a possible terror attack because of Canberra's support for the United States and its involvement in Iraq.

Although Australian commentators almost immediately pointed to Jemaah Islamiyah or an affiliated group, Howard said yesterday it was too early to lay blame for the blast, or to state definitely that the embassy was the target.

"But I do not in any way disguise the fact that it went off, so I'm told, 4m from the embassy gate. It was a very large bomb, and it left a very deep crater."

Concerns about the possible targeting of Australia or its foreign interests were raised within Australia and by former US counter-terrorism chief Richard Clarke as the election loomed.

There were fears terrorists could try to repeat the Madrid bombings in which 191 people died days before the election that toppled the Government and led to the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq.

"Obviously [yesterday's bombing] has occurred in the currency of the campaign and obviously that's self-evident, but until we have more information we can't be definitive about it," Howard said.

"This is a robust democracy and the processes of political debate and exchange will continue ... This is not a nation that is going to be intimidated by acts of terrorism.

"I, of course, condemn this bomb attack unconditionally."

Howard said he had not received any advice that a direct danger to Australia of a terror attack had increased. The official estimate of threat would remain at the present medium level.

No Australians were seriously hurt in the blast - although some were believed to have received minor injuries - but locally recruited members of the security staff were feared to have been killed.

Last night Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, shadow minister Kevin Rudd, nine Australian Federal Police bomb experts, a senior medical officer and a staff counsellor flew to Jakarta on board the Prime Minister's Air Force VIP jet.

Howard said there had been no specific warning or advice that the embassy would be attacked, but last weekend the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade joined the US in issuing new warnings about travel to Indonesia.

The warning said Australians should defer all non-essential travel to Indonesia.

"We continue to receive reports suggesting that terrorists in Indonesia are planning attacks against foreigners and the Indonesian Government," it said.

"These attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners."

Last month Indonesian authorities warned that bombings and riots could disrupt campaigning for the presidential elections due to be held on September 20.