Jakarta on bomb alert

JAKARTA - One of Southeast Asia's most wanted Islamic militants may be hiding on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital, police said last night as they stepped up security at hotels and shopping malls following a United States warning.

Jakarta police spokesman Tjiptono said although the capital's police were already on high alert, they had yet to see signs that an attack was imminent.

"We think Azahari and his people are just outside Jakarta," Tjiptono said, referring to the Malaysian fugitive accused by Indonesian police of being the chief bomb-maker for the regional al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah militant network.

"We are increasing security as a precaution.

"We can't tell what they are planning to do, but we're on guard."

Police have said Azahari is among the masterminds behind a spate of bombings in Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali blasts that killed 202 people, the 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta which claimed 12 lives, and last year's blast outside the Australian Embassy that killed 10 people.

The United States Embassy on Friday warned Americans of a threat to bomb the lobbies of hotels frequented by Westerners in Jakarta.

Tensions have also been raised by the May 28 blasts that tore through a market in the predominantly Christian city of Tentena on eastern Sulawesi Island. That attack killed 22 people, making it the bloodiest since the Bali nightclub blasts.

Police have identified two suspects in that bombing, but said that while it bore the hallmarks of Jemaah Islamiyah, they had yet to determine a motive.

Despite heightened security at major hotels in the capital, there appeared to be little impact on occupancy.

"In fact, last weekend our occupancy rate went up," said Yos Rizal, director of sales of the five-star Aryadutta hotel.

"But we are tightening security, and we have asked for additional police to safeguard the compound," he said.

Security at major malls is also tight, although police with automatic weapons appear to have done little to deter shoppers.

- REUTERS