Australia warns of possible terror attacks in Indonesia

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia has warned its citizens against traveling to Indonesia, saying it has evidence that terrorists are in the "advanced stages" of plotting a terror attack before the end of the year.

In a travel advisory issued late Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it continued "to receive a stream of credible reporting suggesting that terrorists are in the advanced stages of planning attacks against Western interests in Indonesia."

"Recent new information suggests that terrorists may be planning attacks to occur before the end of 2005," it added.

The department advised Australians to avoid nonessential travel to Indonesia and warned those already in the archipelago nation to consider leaving immediately.

Hotels, schools, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, embassies and "other areas where Westerners tend to gather" were all listed as possible targets.

Australian interests have been the target of several terrorist attacks in Indonesia in recent years.

Four Australians were among the 23 people killed by suicide bombers on the popular resort island of Bali on Oct. 1, and 88 Australians were killed in the October 2002 Bali nightclub bombings.

The Australian Embassy was also targeted by suicide bombers in September 2004; 11 people died, none of them Australian.