Australia warns against travel to Indonesia
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-23 15:40

The Australian government warned its citizens on Sunday to avoid travelling to Indonesia, saying it continued to receive reports that attacks are being planned against western targets in the country.

The advice followed a review but did not step up the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's overall level of warning.

"We continue to advise Australians to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia, including Bali," the department said in a notice issued on Sunday on its Web site (www.dfat.gov.au).

"We continue to receive reports that further attacks are being planned against a variety of targets, including embassies, international schools, international hotels, churches, shopping centres, transport hubs or identifiably western interests, including businesses," it said.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Indonesia's capital told Americans in the world's most populous Muslim country to take security precautions.

"A convergence of local and international factors has increased the potential threat to Americans in Indonesia, such as...information gathered worldwide indicating that terrorist groups contemplate additional attacks against Americans or American interests," the embassy in Jakarta said in a statement released on Friday.

The Australian government advised its nationals not to go to Aceh, Maluku province, and the areas around and between the cities of Saroako in South Sulawesi Province and Salonsa in Central Sulawesi Province, and advised those in those areas to leave.

"We also caution about 'sweeping' operations (raids) by militant Islamic groups against bars, nightclubs and other public places which might seek to identify Australians. Australians should take particular care to avoid public demonstrations," the notice said.