Parcel closes Indonesia embassy in Australia

CANBERRA - A suspicious package discovered at the Indonesian embassy in Australia forced the closure of the mission on Tuesday, police said.

The security scare is the second at the embassy in a week.

Police said they received a telephone call about the package at 9.48am. Emergency services were at the scene a short time later and closed off the street, while one person went through a decontamination shower in the embassy yard.

No further details were immediately available.

The Indonesian embassy was shut down last week and its 46 staff quarantined for 12 hours after it received a package containing a white powder.

Police later said the powder was harmless.

The incident occurred as a public backlash rages in Australia against the conviction in Bali of an Australian on drug charges. Security at the Indonesian embassy has been stepped up in recent weeks after staff received threats over the drugs case.

- REUTERS