Jakarta blast dominates world media with views split over effects<\/p>\n
The bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta dominated Asian
\nnewspapers on Friday but opinions were divided over the political
\nimpact of the attack.<\/p>\n
At least nine people died and 180 injured in an attack that
\nwould have repercussions for upcoming Australian elections and
\nraised questions over the ability of Indonesia to tackle
\nterrorism, according to editorials from across the region.<\/p>\n
The bombing thrust national security to the forefront of
\nAustralia's Oct. 9 general election with newspapers there
\nagreeing that it was an unprecedented attack on the nation.<\/p>\n
\"Terror at our door\" said the Australian newspaper with the
\nSydney Morning Herald declaring \"Evil at our gate\" accompanied by
\npictures of the bomb-ravaged embassy.<\/p>\n
In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, both Prime Minister
\nJohn Howard and opposition Labor Party leader Mark Latham
\nsuspended campaigning that had previously been dominated by
\neconomic issues.<\/p>\n
\"The bombing in Jakarta could become the event that crushed
\nMark Latham's bid to get a Labor government elected,\" the Daily
\nTelegraph said, pointing out that opinion polls showed most
\nvoters viewed Howard as more capable on national security.<\/p>\n
The Sydney Morning Herald said the attack was likely to create
\na mood of uncertainty and insecurity. \"Such a feeling often
\nencourages voters to stay with the incumbent government,\" it
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Straits Times said it was less clear how voters would
\nreact and pointed to the Madrid train bombings just before
\nelections in Spain, which also had troops in Iraq, that led to a
\nchange in government.<\/p>\n
The blast targeting Australia, a U.S. ally, \"raises important
\nquestions about the timing, intention and consequences,\" said the
\nnewspaper in its Friday editorial.<\/p>\n
The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong said the attack was
\nlikely to bring Indonesian public opinion behind efforts to
\ntackle terrorism with both candidates in Sept. 20 presidential
\npolls vowing to take a hard line.<\/p>\n
\"Yesterday's attack suggests the threat posed by JI (Jamaah
\nIslamiyah) remains a big one. Even if it was carried out by a
\ndifferent group, the conclusion is unavoidable. Indonesia -- the
\nworld's most populous Muslim country -- cannot afford to soften
\nits stance on terrorism.\" -- AFP<\/p>",
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