Australia has extended the travel advisories that have angered its southeast Asian neighbours to include a general warning to its citizens about all international travel.
The foreign ministry advisory cited US and German intelligence warnings of possible increased terrorist activity to underscore the global threat of terrorism to Australians.
"As demonstrated in Bali, terrorists are prepared to strike indiscriminately and unpredictably at Western interests, including those of Australia, across the world," it said.
It said the October 12th bombing on the Indonesian island of Bali that killed more than 190 people, almost half of them Australian, "underscored the ongoing threat across the world posed by terrorism".
Unlike the warnings that have been criticised in Southeast Asia, the warning did not advise travellers to avoid specific countries. But it said Australians should avoid public gatherings while overseas, saying sporadic demonstrations against conflict in the Middle East were occurring worldwide.
Travellers were also told to avoid destinations frequented by foreigners including "clubs, restaurants, bars, hotels, places of worship, cultural and tourist sites, schools or outdoor recreation events".
Southeast Asian nations have labelled Australia's travel warnings as an over-reaction which is damaging the region's tourism industry. But Australian Foreign Minister Mr Alexander Downer has defended them saying they were based on intelligence reports and Australia had every right to "put the security of our own people first".
The US state department said this week that the execution of Ahmad Kasi, scheduled for November 14th, could trigger terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings, in some Asian countries.
Kasi was convicted of a 1993 shooting spree outside the US Central Intelligence Agency that killed two and injured three.
AFP