'Terrorists only slowed by tsunami'

'Terrorists only slowed by tsunami'

AUSTRALIA: Terrorists in Southeast Asia may have postponed attacks in Indonesia because of the devastating Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami, but their overall plans have not changed, Australia's No. 2 spy said on Tuesday.

Ian Cousins, deputy director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, said terrorist groups may have "taken tactical decisions to lay off attacks in Indonesia" after the quake and tsunami that left more than 200,000 people dead or missing across much of Asia.

However, Cousins said, the tsunami had not prompted any major ideological shift among extremists.

"In Southeast Asia, the tsunami that so tragically affected parts of Indonesia and other countries did not lead and has not led to any fundamental rethink by terrorists in that region," Cousins said at a national security conference.

"We can be certain the tsunami has not resulted in any change of strategic direction. We must expect that Australia and its overseas interests will continue to be targeted," he added.

Terrorist bombings on Indonesia's Bali island killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, in 2002. Last year, a suicide car bombing at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta killed 10 people. -- AP