ABC AUSTRALIA, 12/10/2002 16:21:45
US State Dept says American ambassador in Jakarta may send
staff home
The US State Department has refused to deny reports that its ambassador in Jakarta
has warned that he could withdraw some embassy staff unless Indonesian authorities
improve security after a grenade explosion near an embassy residence.
The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal say Ambassador Ralph Boyce has told
Indonesian officials that he could be forced to evacuate non-essential staff.
US officials are concerned that the blast -- which killed one of those responsible --
might have targeted American facilities.
The incident came a week after US diplomatic missions in Indonesia re-opened
following a six-day shutdown because of fears the al-Qaeda network was planning
truck bomb attacks against US missions in Southeast Asia.
12/10/2002 16:21:45 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
