Terror attack warning

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Bali faces a possible terrorist attack tonight, a statement issued by the US Embassy quoted the island's governor as saying, but the governor's office denied making any such comment.

The embassy sent e-mails to US citizens Thursday quoting Bali's governor as saying "There is an indication of an attack to Bali tonight."

The statement quoted Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika as saying in a message distributed by the Bali Tourism board: "There is an indication of an attack to Bali tonight, but please don't panic, but put your security system to full alert."

Six months ago twin suicide blasts killed seven people at luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

The resort island of Bali has been hit hard by Islamic militants, with more than 220 people killed in suicide bombings in 2002 and 2005 targeting Westerners.

Officials at the US Embassy in Jakarta could not immediately be reached for further comment. But Putu Suardika, head of public relations at the office of the Bali governor, denied that the governor had made such a statement.

"No, he never said that, either in writing or verbally," Suardika said. "We never put out any warning either written or spoken. Of course we in Bali, because we have had two bombs in the past, have to remain on alert."

Bali police spokesman Gde Sugianyar said police were not aware of a threat and always tried to ensure security was as tight as possible.

"There is no initial indication so far. Everything is running well and secure in Bali.

"For us, we don't consider whether there is any threat or not but we have been preparing security for the New Year's Eve to be as tight as it can."

- Reuters