Japan, Australia on Guard After Al Qaeda Threat

Nov 17, 2003

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and Australia said on Monday they would be vigilant after a report that al Qaeda had claimed responsibility for weekend bombings in Turkey and had vowed fresh attacks on the United States and its allies.

Neither country announced fresh security measures after the report in Sunday's edition of the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper, which was one factor behind a fall on the Tokyo stock market.

The newspaper said al Qaeda had claimed responsibility for Saturday's bombing of two Istanbul synagogues that killed at least 23 people and was planning car bombings against the United States, Britain, Italy, Australia and Japan.

The report comes at a delicate time for Japan, which is trying to decide when to send troops to Iraq and is torn between promises to the United States and domestic public opinion, which opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and is against sending troops.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Japan would respond to the report with the vigilance it has maintained since the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

"At times like this, there are many reports," he told a news conference. "We will have to look into it carefully."

The Nikkei average fell 3.74 percent, but a firm that specializes in gas masks for Japan's military, or Self-Defense Forces, Koken Ltd, saw its shares rise, as did other military-related firms and gas mask makers.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said it was hard to know whether the al Qaeda statement was authentic but that Australia would not raise its counter-terrorism alert level, which has been on medium alert since the September 11 attacks.

"If it's authentic we treat it with scorn and contempt," Downer told reporters in Adelaide.

"I think these fanatical Islamic terrorists know only too well that there are some countries with the courage and determination to take them on and defeat them. Australia is one of those countries and Australia is a tough country."

Fukuda said Japan had received many similar reports in the two years since the September 11 attacks, checked them out carefully and reinforced protection where needed.

"We haven't had anything serious up to now," he said. "Without checking, it's hard to know if there's anything different about this time.

"Since 9/11 we have always been on guard. Strictly on guard."

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters: "We must not give in to terrorism."

Among other reactions, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, quoted in Monday's People's Daily, denounced the Istanbul blasts.

"China opposes terrorism in any form and is willing to make unremitting efforts with the international community to safeguard world peace and security," he said.

Fukuda was non-committal on how the development might affect Japan's proposed dispatch of troops to Iraq.

Tokyo had been expected to commit about 150 non-combat troops to Iraq before the end of the year, but said last week following an attack that killed 18 Italians that sending troops was impossible under current conditions.

"We will continue to draw up a plan taking into account changes in the situation and any changes in needs," Fukuda said. "We are now working on that."

Earlier, he said: ""We can't just say we'll send people quickly, ignoring present conditions. We have to watch the situation realistically."

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