Warnings step up for Bali

The Government has again stepped up its travel warning for Bali, telling tourists more bombings cannot be ruled out.

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry's official advisory updated this week includes a fresh section on Bali.

"If your presence in Bali is essential extreme caution should be exercised," the warning says.

A triple bombing at the Indonesia resort island killed 22 people and injured more than 100 at the weekend, almost three years since terrorists bombed Kuta beach and killed 202 people.

The official travel advisory was last strengthened in June, and advised travellers that there were indications terrorists may be "in the advanced stages" of planning attacks.

The new advisory underlines that message and again tells people to defer non essential or tourist travel, both to Bali and the rest of Indonesia.

"There remains a high threat from terrorism in Indonesia, as the October 1 Bali bombings demonstrated.

"We continue to receive reports that attacks are in the advanced stages of planning."

Some travel agents this week admitted they did not pass on details about government warnings.

Police have again appealed for information from travellers who were in the vicinity of the Bali bombs. Superintendent John Kelly said New Zealand investigators had a close relationship with police in Indonesia and had been asked to make contact with tourists who had returned home or were in New Zealand as their next port of call.

"We want to hear from those travellers who were in the vicinity of the Raja Noodle Steak Snack House in Kuta Town Square and at Cafe Nayomama and Cafe Mendega in the Jimbaran Bay area when the bombs were set off around 7.30pm," he said.

* Anyone with information can contact the New Zealand Police Bali information line on 0800 225 446 or go to the police website (see link below) and leave contact details.

- NZPA