U.S. warns of possible war retaliation in RI<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Washington<\/p>\n
The United States on Saturday renewed its existing terrorism-
\nrelated warning for U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Indonesia
\nand consider leaving if already there due to possible retaliatory
\nattacks for the war in Iraq.<\/p>\n
The State Department, echoing concerns first raised by the
\nU.S. and British embassies in Jakarta on Thursday and Friday,
\nsaid the conflict in Iraq would likely inflame anger in
\nIndonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.<\/p>\n
"As a result of the military action in Iraq, Indonesia's
\nfrequent political demonstrations may escalate, increasing the
\npotential for anti-American violence and for terrorist actions
\nagainst U.S. citizens and interests," it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
"The U.S. embassy in Jakarta has received credible information
\nthat extremist elements may be planning additional attacks
\ntargeting U.S. interests in Indonesia, particularly U.S.
\ngovernment officials and facilities," it said.<\/p>\n
"All U.S. citizens in Indonesia are urged to take into account
\n(this) information ... and consider departing the country."<\/p>\n
But the statement made no mention of a specific Australian
\nalert, issued earlier Saturday, which warned that anti-Western
\ngroups may be planning a "terrorist" attack in Indonesia's second
\ncity of Surabaya.<\/p>\n
The United States, Britain and Australia are the three
\ncountries most directly involved in the ongoing invasion of Iraq.<\/p>\n
Earlier Saturday, the Australian foreign ministry advised
\nAustralians not to visit Surabaya, where protesters on Friday
\npicketed the U.S. consulate and a McDonald's outlet in protests
\nagainst the war.<\/p>\n
The warning, which was dismissed by Indonesian authorities,
\nsaid there was "credible information that terrorist groups with a
\nhistory of targeting Westerners and Western interests may be
\nplanning terrorist activity on or about 23 March in Surabaya,
\nIndonesia."<\/p>\n
On Thursday, the U.S. embassy urged Americans to ensure their
\nsafety "as a result of heightened risks associated with the
\noutbreak of hostilities, including the continued threat of
\nterrorist attacks on Americans from groups associated with al-
\nQaeda."<\/p>\n
A day later, the British embassy upgraded an earlier warning
\nthat said westerners were likely to face harassment from
\nextremists in bars and nightclubs.<\/p>\n
It added that there was "also a serious threat of more
\nwidespread harassment ... including the threat of violence,
\nduring military action in Iraq."<\/p>\n
In October, the State Department warned U.S. citizens against
\ntraveling to Indonesia and ordered the departure of its non-
\nessential diplomats and the families of all official personnel
\nfrom the embassy in Jakarta and consulate in Surabaya after the
\ndeadly nightclub bombings on the resort island of Bali.<\/p>\n
The Bali bombings are blamed on regional terror group Jamaah
\nIslamiyah, which is believed allied with al-Qaeda. The blasts
\nkilled 202 people, mostly foreigners.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-warns-of-possible-war-retaliation-in-ri-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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