AUSTRALIA: Australians were advised yesterday to leave Indonesia as criticism grew over the failure of the Canberra authorities to release stronger warnings prior to the Bali atrocity.
The Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, said there was disturbing new information about threats to Australian interests.
In the light of this information, which is thought to have come from interrogation rather than intelligence, Australia has upgraded a travel warning about terrorist activity in Indonesia and other south-east Asian countries.
Mr Downer told parliament: "We urge Australians to exercise extreme caution, particularly in commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners, such as clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship and, importantly, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas."
The Foreign Affairs Department estimates there are about 10,000 Australians in Indonesia, apart from Bali. The Australian school in the capital, Jakarta, closed yesterday after the warning was issued and many Australians have begun to return home.
The Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, said before departing for Bali it was inevitable some would criticise the decision not to issue a stronger travel warning before the bombings.
Australia received US intelligence mentioning Bali as a potential target for terrorism at least two days before the bombing.
Mr Howard said intelligence agencies assessed the information and the Department of Foreign Affairs decided there was no need to upgrade existing tourist warnings. "Nothing was received that could be interpreted as a warning of the bombing that took place."
However, a former Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) officer said it was "appalling incompetence" that the threat was not made known to the public.
Mr Warren Reed, who formerly headed the Indonesia desk at ASIS, is blaming those within the organisation for the lack of warning before the bombing. "The system didn't work," he said.
"It's not just a matter of blaming people but there will be people who need to be blamed, there will be classical cases of incompetence," he said, calling for a public inquiry.
The opposition Labor Party leader, Mr Simon Crean,, said: "Certainly, the survivors and the relatives of the victims have a right to know."
The government has so far stopped short of ordering a public inquiry, but said an internal review of intelligence and security would be held.
Mr Howard and Mr Crean attended a memorial service in Bali last night for the victims of Saturday night's bomb blast.
At least 119 Australians are feared dead.