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| Confusion over Bali terror warning Governor of Indonesian island denies issuing warning of New Year's Eve attack quoted on embassy websiteThe US embassy in Indonesia today issued a warning of a possible attack in the popular tourist destination of Bali tonight, saying it was based on information from the island's governor.A message on the US embassy website carried what it said was a statement from the Bali tourism board.The statement read: "The governor of Bali, Mangku Pastika, wishes to share a message with all of us: 'There is an indication of an attack to Bali tonight' ... please don't panic, but put your security system to full alert."However, Putu Suardika, the head of public relations at the Bali governor's office, denied that Pastika had made such a statement."No, he never said that, either in writing or verbally," Suardika told Reuters. "We never put out any warning, either written or spoken."Of course we in Bali, because we have had two bombs in the past, have to remain on alert."Attacks on Bali in 2002 and 2005 killed more than 200 people. In July, suicide bombers attacked the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in Jakarta, killing seven people and themselves and wounding 53 others.The Indonesian government said the al-Qaida-linked group Jemaah Islamiyah, led by Noordin Mohammed Top, carried out the attacks. Top was killed by Indonesian police in September.On its website, the Foreign Office – which also cited the warning from the Bali tourism board – said there was a high threat from terrorism throughout Indonesia."Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and intent to carry out these attacks at any time and any where in the country," it said."Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers."Police in Bali played down the threat of an imminent attack. Gde Sugianyar, a police spokesman, said officers were not aware of a threat and always tried to ensure security was as tight as possible."There is no initial indication so far. Everything is running well and secure in Bali," he told Reuters."For us, we don't consider whether there is any threat or not, but we have been preparing security for the New Year's Eve to be as tight as it can."Global terrorismIndonesiaUnited StatesMark Tranguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
AP: 2 ex-Blackwater guards charged with murder RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Two former Blackwater contractors were arrested Thursday on murder charges in the shootings of two Afghans after a traffic accident last year, according to an indictment obtained by The Associated Press.... hosted.ap.org |
UN: Taliban cause Afghan civilian deaths to soar KABUL (AP) -- Taliban suicide bombings and other attacks caused Afghan civilian deaths to soar last year to the highest annual level of the war, a U.N. report found Wednesday, while deaths attributed to allied troops dropped nearly 30 percent. Many Afghans now blame the violence on the Taliban rather than foreign forces.... hosted.ap.org |
U.K., Argentina Spar Over Falklands Britain on Monday said it "firmly rejects" a new Argentine law that defines the Falkland Islands, over which the countries fought a war in 1982, as part of its territory. online.wsj.com |
Sri Lanka Election: Rajapaksa and Fonseka in Close Race The two victors in the island nation's 26-year-long civil war face off in a potentially explosive electoral contest feedproxy.google.com |