US warns of fresh Indonesian threat

Indonesia is trying to reassure people they are safe

The US has warned of new terrorist attacks in Indonesia as it moved to put the Islamic militant group, Jemaah Islamiah (JI), on a list of terrorist groups.

The move came as Indonesian police waited to interview JI's alleged leader in his hospital bed over a string of bombings in Indonesia two years ago.

The latest travel warning from the US embassy in Jakarta said Americans should be "particularly vigilant in the immediate future" and warned them to avoid areas "known to cater to a foreign clientele".

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir denies links with terrorism

The 12 October bomb at a nightclub on the holiday island of Bali killed at least 190 people, mostly young Westerners.

The UK and Australia have also warned of new intelligence that points to possible further attacks, particularly at tourist sites.

Foreign governments, including the US, have named Jemaah Islamiah as being involved in the Bali attack. US officials hinted it would soon be added to a list of 34 terrorist organisations worldwide.

Indonesia says the group has links with Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, which is blamed for the 11 September attacks on the US.

Indonesia has not named the group as suspects in the Bali bomb, but it has detained JI's alleged leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir on suspected involvement in bombings of Christian churches in December 2000.

He is also suspected of plotting to kill President Megawati Sukarnoputri before she came to office.

However, police have still not been able to question Mr Ba'asyir, as he remains in hospital, having collapsed on Friday. He denied any links to JI or to terrorism.

Supporters threaten protests

Doctors on Tuesday said his health was improving, but they could not say when he would be released for police questioning.

"Let us do our best. We also want to see the patient well again as soon as possible," said Ros Edi Ariswati, the director of the Muhammadiyah hospital in Solo, central Java.

Policemen and supporters of the 64-year-old cleric stood watch outside his hospital room on Tuesday, with more supporters gathered outside the hospital.

Doctors say Mr Ba'asyir is suffering respiratory, heart and ulcer problems.

Mr Ba'asyir's supporters have threatened protests if police try to move the cleric to the capital Jakarta.

However, the government hopes it can contain any unrest from radical Muslims, who make up a small minority of Indonesia's mostly moderate Muslim population.

The government has the backing of the country's two largest Islamic groups for a new anti-terrorism decree rushed through days after the Bali bomb.

Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri was due to fly to Greece late on Tuesday and then to an Asia-Pacific summit in Mexico.