Australia, UK, NZ urge nationals to leave RI

Australia, UK, NZ urge nationals to leave RI

Agencies, Jakarta

As Australian Prime Minister John Howard set his foot on Bali island on Thursday, his government, together with the governments of the UK and New Zealand, told their citizens to leave Indonesia due to "new threats" following the Bali blasts that killed at least 184, mostly foreigners.

Intense security was imposed on Bali's airport for the arrival of Howard, who headed straight to the Australian Consulate where he was to take part in a sunset service for victims and relatives.

"As the sun sets over this beautiful island, we gather here in sorrow, in anguish, in disbelief and in pain," Howard told the mostly Australian congregation.

"I can on behalf of all the people of Australia declare to you that we will do everything in our power to bring to justice those who were responsible for this foul deed."

Meanwhile, foreign minister Alexander Downer said "disturbing new information of generic threats" to Westerners in Indonesia had prompted his government to sharply upgrade its travel warnings for Indonesia and some other Southeast Asian countries.

"We are recommending that all Australians in Indonesia who are concerned about their security should consider departure," Downer said. "In particular short-term visitors whose presence in Indonesia is non-essential should depart."

New Zealanders in Indonesia were also advised on Thursday to leave the country.

Foreign affairs Minister Phil Goff said his ministry's advisory was in line with a move by Australia urging its citizens in Indonesia to leave if they felt unsafe.

Britain Foreign Secretary Jack Straw went even further and said that it was not only advising its nationals to leave Indonesia but was also pulling out non-essential diplomats from Indonesia.

"I authorized the withdrawal of some dependents and non- essential staff from the British embassy in Jakarta," he told reporters.

Britain's move followed the decision of the U.S. government, which has withdrawn non-essential staff from its diplomatic missions in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Singapore told Indonesia on Thursday to take "decisive" action against extremist Islamic groups in the wake of the Bali bombing, saying a stable Indonesia was critical for Southeast Asia.

"Governments involved in the worldwide fight against terrorism will be watching closely how Indonesia handles this threat," Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

Indonesia has faced international accusations of not doing enough to crack down on Islamic radicals, while accused members of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) have been detained in neighboring countries.