Australia reveals 'specific' terror threat

CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister John Howard said today he had received intelligence about a "potential terrorist threat".

"The government has received specific intelligence from police information this week which gives cause for serious concern about a potential terrorist threat," Howard told reporters in Canberra.

Howard refused to give details about the nature or location of the threat, but said the government would rush through an amendment to anti-terror laws to enable police to respond.

"I do not intend, and can not, go into any of the operational details. We have seen material, it is a cause for concern," he said.

The government is already preparing tough anti-terrorism legislation that has sparked concern about civil liberties in the country.

Australia, a staunch US ally with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has never suffered a major peacetime attack on home soil. However, Australians have been targetted by terrorists in Indonesia.

The country has been on medium security alert since shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

- REUTERS