http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL06334128.html
Morocco raises security alert to maximum
Fri 6 Jul 2007, 22:02 GMT
(Adds analyst and diplomat comments, byline)
By Lamine Ghanmi (excerpt)
RABAT, July 6 (Reuters) - Morocco has raised its terrorism threat level to “maximum”, the highest category indicating a radical Islamist attack is expected imminently, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The decision was announced after a meeting of chiefs of police, intelligence and paramilitary forces in the capital Rabat.
Analysts and diplomats said recent visits to Morocco by top European and U.S security officials underscored the imminence of the threat as well as the role the North African kingdom was playing in the U.S.-declared global fight against terrorism.
They pointed to repeated al Qaeda threats to hit Morocco and other North African states, citing the appearance on video early this week of Ayman al-Zawahri, al Qaeda’s number two, to urge the overthrow of what he called “corrupt” Muslim governments.
“This alert level indicates a serious threat of terrorist action and requires the extreme mobilisation of the security organs,” the ministry said, describing the threat in terms Moroccan officials routinely apply to radical Islamists.
It cited “reliable intelligence information” but gave no details about any specific attack threat.
One security analyst said: “I suspect the authorities made an arrest and obtained precise information. That information could have been corroborated by intelligence coming from Western allies of Morocco”.
A senior European diplomat said the most widespread speculation among his colleagues was Moroccan authorities feared the possibility of a suicide bomb attack at the peak of the summer tourist season.
“We have no precise information on that but it is the scenario the most talked about by foreign diplomats here,” he said. . .
Thank you callmejoe.
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSSYD26325820070708
Indonesia terror attacks may be “imminent”: Australia
Sun Jul 8, 2007 2:44AM EDT (excerpt)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia warned on Sunday of possible imminent terrorist attacks in Indonesia, including on the resort island of Bali, and told its citizens to think twice before traveling there. . .
More attacks “could take place at any time and could be imminent,” DFAT said. Particular care should be taken at this time to avoid known terrorist targets.” These included Bali and the capital Jakarta, DFAT said. . .
Australia is probing whether the attempted bombings in London and Glasgow last week could be linked to home after questioning at least six Indian doctors, one of whom remains in police custody. . .