Packages turn up at four embassies in Australia

CANBERRA - Suspicious packages turned up today at four foreign missions in Canberra and a fifth at parliament house, authorities and sources said.

The packages were received by the British High Commission and the United States, Japanese and South Korean embassies today.

"We can confirm the commission received a suspicious package earlier this morning," a British High Commission spokesman said.

"We are following AFP (Australian Federal Police) guidelines at present."

Police will not confirm which other missions are affected, but a source said the Japanese, South Korean and American embassies were the locations of the other threats.

A police spokesman said hazardous materials crews were at the missions.

"The packages have been secured following established protocols for these types of incidents," the spokesman said.

Another package of white powder has been detected in the loading dock at parliament, officials said.

The Department of Parliamentary Services said the incident has been contained in the dock area and ACT emergency services were attending.

"The loading dock has been closed, and as a result there will be delays in the delivery of mail within the building today," the department's Hilary Penfold said in a statement.

"However, there is no danger to people in the building."

Each of the embassies to receive a suspicious package today represents a country with troops in Iraq.

Spokespeople for the US and Japan embassies confirmed their missions had been closed after receiving suspicious packages in the mail this morning.

"I can confirm that the US embassy did receive a suspicious package," a US embassy spokeswoman said.

"The embassy is closed and we are working with the AFP and following the proper procedures."

Deputy chief of Japanese mission Jiro Kodera said staff called the AFP after finding an envelope with white powder spilling out of it in the mail about 10am.

The mail was being opened as usual in a smaller building near the main embassy building, he said.

About 40 embassy staff are locked inside the mission's grounds waiting for emergency service workers to check the envelope and powder.

"It's very disturbing and it's a very bad thing," Mr Kodera said.

"Certainly we are not happy but we are not too worried."

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea was unavailable for comment.

- AAP