Tuesday, October 9, 2001 Home > World > Article News Home National World Opinion Entertainment Column 8 a.m. Edition Text Index -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sport Sports News Rugby Heaven RealFooty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Biz/Tech Biz-Tech News Money Manager Trading Room I.T. News Icon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extra Letters Editorial Web Diary Spike News Review Spectrum Travel Multimedia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sydney Weather TV Guide Visiting Weekends Away -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Market Shopping Jobs Property Buy/Sell Cars Auctions I.T. Jobs Classifieds -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Services Advertise - print - online Delivery - paper - e-mail - handheld Subculture -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help Audio/video - WORLD S-E Asia backlash threatens foreigners By Lindsay Murdoch, Herald correspondent in Jakarta A radical Muslim group yesterday threatened to hunt foreigners and destroy Western interests in Indonesia as fears grew of a violent anti-Western backlash among South-East Asia's 240 million Muslims. The Islamic Defenders Front, which has launched attacks in Indonesia in the past with apparent immunity, urged Muslims to lay siege to the United States Embassy in Jakarta in retaliation for the air strikes in Afghanistan. "They [Americans] are terrorists who must be driven from the face of the Earth," the front's chief, Muhammad Rizieq, said. In Malaysia, the Government and the Islamic opposition condemned the strikes, saying innocent people would die. The Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, told parliament the strikes could end in catastrophe. "Conventional war cannot overcome terrorism and defeat terrorists; it can only result in innocent people becoming victims.'' The opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia called Americans war criminals as police stepped up security at the US and other Western embassies in Kuala Lumpur. The party's president, Fadzil Noor, said the attacks were not only against the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan but a direct assault on Muslims. "All Muslims must oppose these criminals. There is no denying a call for jihad." In Indonesia, the Islamic Defenders Front, which boasts tens of thousands of members, said it had given President Megawati Sukarnoputri three days to cut relations with Washington or else it would call a jihad. Thousands of troops and more than 40 armoured personnel carriers were on Jakarta's streets as scores of foreigners made plans to leave the country. In Canberra, the Department of Foreign Affairs advised Australians not to travel to Indonesia. The advisory did not apply to Bali, although more than 6,000 foreign tourists have cancelled holidays there in the past few days. [go to top] In this section Kabul rocked but defiant Enduring fury: the opening blitz Warplane pilots fear for those at home Bid to win hearts and minds with air drop Raids aimed to reduce terrorist camps to dust Get out the lamb and sticky rice, it's rebel party time Taliban warns US of "severe" consequences Admitting guilt and twisting theology Taliban will conduct guerilla war when ground attack starts US braces for further global attacks Americans cheer, then fear the terror to come Grainy pictures of a hazy conflict Beyond the bread and bombs Europe rallies to fight against 'human plague' Musharraf muzzles Islamic sympathisers Israel supportive, Arafat quiet Iran toughens controls amid fears of new refugee surge S-E Asia backlash threatens foreigners 118 dead in Milan plane crash Giant joins bid to drag Kursk from mud tomb Sorry about the war, Japan PM tells China Hate singers rounded up as police swoop in three cities McGuinness 'gets key IRA role' Fertile findings on power of prayer Mystery death puts heat on soccer club-owning mayor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Site Guide | Archive | Feedback | Privacy Policy Copyright © 2001. All rights reserved.