Bomb hoax stirs panic in Kendari

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Employees and guests of Ataya Hotel here were alarmed on Saturday morning when an anonymous caller told the hotel receptionist that he would detonate a bomb already planted in one of the hotel rooms.

After being informed of the bomb threat, the guests, including some foreign tourists, and employees quickly left the hotel.

Police personnel arrived at the scene shortly after being called and began to comb the hotel area.

First. Brig. Bastian, a local police officer said, however, after a two-hour search the police had found nothing. -- JP