SE Asia braces for war fall-out

SE Asia braces for war fall-out

Many people in Southeast Asia are opposed to war

South-east Asian countries are bracing for possible terrorist attack and violent domestic protests in the event of a US-led war in Iraq.

The Philippines government deployed hundreds of troops to airports and other sites on Tuesday.

Police in Indonesia said that they were anticipating violent protests from radical Islamic groups.

And ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) said they were worried that Western tourists and businesses could become targets for terrorists sympathetic to Iraq.

The militants and terrorists would obviously want to exploit the situation and even the moderate Muslims will be very angry

Malaysian Acting Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Ong Keng Yong, Asean secretary general, was particularly worried about the threat to Western targets in the region.

"The one place that has a lot of Western presence, where people can still move in and out freely, is Southeast Asia," he said.

"Naturally the terrorists will want to see how they can attack any of these targets."

Security has been tightened on Singapore's border

Singapore tightened security measures on the land border with Malaysia and along its coast.

Although never having suffered a terrorist attack, Singapore already has emergency decontamination chambers built at 13 stations on the subway, and sufficient bomb shelters to house a quarter of the population.

High alert

The Philippines went on high alert against reprisal attacks on Tuesday.

Extra troops were deployed at airports, embassies and churches.

"We must be pro-active against collateral terrorist attacks," said President Gloria Arroyo, speaking on national radio.

It is not impossible that solidarity with the Iraqi people might take the form of retaliation against US interests in Indonesia

Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo, Indonesian Muslim leader

President Arroyo has been a staunch supporter of President Bush.

Military officials said that they were worried that Muslim rebels fighting in the south of the country might target the capital Manila if America invaded Iraq.

In Malaysia, Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi warned that war would "put the governments of Islamic countries under severe strain".

"The militants and terrorist would obviously want to exploit the situation and even the moderate Muslims will be very angry", he told the AFP news agency.

Governments are worried that protests will be violent

Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, is bracing itself both for the terrorist threat and violent domestic protest.

Indonesian police said that they have drawn up a security plan to control protestors, prevent attacks on Westerners and foil any terrorist threat.

In an article in the Jakarta Post, Muslim commentator Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo predicted a 'fierce reaction' to the war.

He said it would be difficult for moderate Muslim leaders to control their organisations and make it easier for them to be infiltrated by terrorist elements.

"It is not impossible that solidarity with the Iraqi people might take the form of retaliation against US interests in Indonesia," he wrote.