US warns Indonesia election terror attack possible

12.50pm

WASHINGTON - The United States says a terror attack in Indonesia is possible in the run-up to the Muslim nation's April elections and also warned of persistent threats worldwide, particularly in the Middle East.

After suspected Islamic militants killed 202 people ahead of Spain's elections in an attack that possibly helped alter the outcome, Washington warned Indonesian militants might try something similar there, a State Department official said.

The State Department issued a travel warning that highlighted the dangers of rebels fighting for independence in the region of Aceh and noted that Islamic militants have already struck in Indonesia, including bombings in Bali that killed about 200 people in 2002.

The world's most populous Muslim nation will hold legislative elections across its sprawling archipelago on April 5 and hold a presidential vote on July 5.

The State Department also reiterated a "worldwide caution" for Americans abroad to be vigilant about terror threats and spotlighted in a separate statement the continuing threat of strikes against planes, trains or ships in the Middle East.

These two warnings reiterated months-old cautions and contained no reference to any new threat.

"In light of the Spain bombings, the fact that it's the anniversary (of the US-led Iraq invasion) and the stepped-up attacks in Iraq, it was felt there was a need to repeat a general caution," said the official, who asked not to be named.

"There is no new threat or new intelligence that has lead to this."

The United States frequently issues travel advisories about possible attacks but in recent years militants' strikes around the world have rarely coincided with the warnings.

- REUTERS