Second Canberra terror threat proves harmless

The Australian capital was yesterday plunged into its second major terror scare in two days when a package containing white powder was sent to Parliament House.

Like the powder that sparked a lockdown of the Indonesian Embassy on Wednesday, the substance in yesterday's scare was harmless.

Australian Federal Police are relying on forensic tests to prove any link between yesterday's threat and the embassy incident, which the Federal Government has blamed on anger over Schapelle Corby's 20-year jail term for drug-smuggling in Bali.

The package, addressed to Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, contained a sealed bag of white powder. Mail workers immediately raised the alarm before the substance was isolated in a loading dock.

A female worker was temporarily isolated and decontaminated after touching the package.

Mr Downer, who was back in Adelaide yesterday after spending the week in Canberra, said the latest scare was "deplorable".

Police chief Mick Keelty could not rule out a link between the two scares, and he said investigators were no closer to learning who was behind the embassy incident.

ACT Chief Health Officer Charles Guest yesterday gave the all-clear for the embassy to be reopened as three forensic experts from the Indonesian National Police arrived in Canberra to join the investigation.

Prime Minister John Howard continued to maintain that the events of the past week would not cause any long-term damage to Australia's relationship with Indonesia.

"We've had some differences in the past and we are very different societies.

"[But] I'm quite optimistic that things will go on in the new, positive way that has been the case with that relationship for a long time."

While condemning the threat, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono believes the two countries will work through the recent turmoil.

Meanwhile, the Australian Government is reviewing advice for travellers to Indonesia after the United States said extremists planned bombings targeting the lobbies of hotels frequented by westerners in the capital, Jakarta.

- AAP