U.S. Embassy 'overreacts'

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso called upon the U.S. Embassy on Monday not to overreact following reports that the embassy had warned its citizens here to take precautions over security concerns in the country.

He was referring to reports that the embassy had instructed some of its aid workers to leave Indonesia following information that extremists may attack U.S. interests and American tourists in the country.

Sutiyoso urged the embassy to be "more objective in viewing the social conditions in the country".

"As (representing) a more sophisticated country, the U.S. Embassy should be able to 'read' the social conditions here," he remarked, adding that the ambassador always praised the security conditions in the capital.

Sutiyoso said that conditions here were favorable, referring to some international events held successfully in the city.

"The police are exerting their best efforts, so I see no reason for the U.S. Embassy to overreact," he claimed.

He praised the police for their success in the arrest of a group of people suspected of terrorizing the city with bomb attacks even though most cases actually remain unsolved.(04)