Homeland Security

DATE=11/28/2002

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PHILIPPINES EMBASSIES

NUMBER=2-296902

BYLINE=KATHERINE MARIA

DATELINE= HONG KONG

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Australia and Canada closed their embassies in Manila on Thursday. Australian leaders say the action was taken after receiving reports of specific and credible threats from Islamic extremists. V-O-A's Katherine Maria reports.

TEXT: Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says he ordered the embassy's closure in Manila after receiving an intelligence report on Wednesday night.

/// DOWNER ACT ///

On reading the report -- it is a very specific report. Its not only location specific that is targeting the Australian Embassy itself, it is also time specific we're talking here of over the next few days.

/// END ACT ///

Last week the Australian government issued its most serious warning yet of possible terror attacks within Australia.

The Canadian Embassy also closed its doors on Thursday, warning Canadians not to travel to the Philippines until further notice.

At least ninety Australians and a hundred others were killed in a terror attack at a popular tourist spot on the Indonesian island of Bali last month.

Investigators link that attack to Jemaah Islamiyah - a faction with suspected ties to the al-Qaida terror network.

NEB/HK/KM/MH/MEM