Japan warning after terror threat

The threat is thought linked to Japan's promise of troops for Iraq

Japan has issued a warning to its nationals overseas to be cautious, following an alleged terrorist threat from Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

A London-based Arabic newspaper indicated that Japan, among other US allies, could be at risk of car bombings.

The warning came as Japan deliberated over whether to send a small contingent of troops to Iraq.

"Given these warnings, we ask that everyone... avoid locations that could become the target of terror attacks... and pay attention to things around you," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a warning posted on its internet home page.

The alert was the latest in a series of warnings issued by the Foreign Ministry since the 11 September, 2001 attacks on the US.

"This time we thought it advisable since Japan was specifically mentioned," an official at the ministry said.

Japan's National Public Safety Commission chief Kiyoko Ono told reporters on Tuesday that Japanese authorities were still trying to verify and gauge the risk Japan might be facing.

"So far, we have not found any signs (of impending attacks)," Ms Ono said, adding that Japanese police would continue the tightened security measures adopted after the September 2001 attacks.

Troops

Tokyo had been expected to commit about 150 non-combat troops before the end of the year, but postponed making a decision last week, after a bomb attack killed 18 Italians.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said on Tuesday that the government would carefully consider whether to send the troops after receiving a report from a fact-finding mission which left for Iraq on Saturday.

He has refused to comment on whether the alleged threats from al-Qaeda would affect the decision.