Howard warns nation of large death toll
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Your support makes all the difference.The bomb blasts in Bali have traumatised Australia, which has long regarded the Indonesian island as its holiday playground.
When the fatality figures are apportioned, the Australian death toll is certain to be the highest. Seven Australians were confirmed dead yesterday and 113 were in hospital in Bali.
The death toll is expected to rise and the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, warned the nation to prepare for significant fatalities. Tony Blair has telephoned Mr Howard to convey his condolences.
For Australians, Bali is the equivalent of Majorca, and tens of thousands of youngsters and families visit the island every year. Now its image as a tropical haven in Australia's back yard may have been shattered for ever.
In a geographically isolated country unaccustomed to terrorist attacks, Saturday night's events struck doubly hard. Mr Howard said they were proof that Australia was not immune. "People should get out of their minds that it can't happen here," he said. "It can, and it has happened to our own on our doorstep."
Australia is one of America's staunchest allies in the international campaign against terrorism. It has contributed 150 troops and equipment to the offensive in Afghanistan and is prepared to support US military action against Iraq.
In Melbourne yesterday, where peace marchers were protesting against the government's support of American policy against Saddam Hussein, the 30,000 demonstrators held a two-minute silent vigil for the victims of the bombing.
Mr Howard declared the nation's resolve to be as firm as ever, and pledged to review national security. "I can only say again that the war against terrorism must go on with unrelenting vigour," he said.
In a statement, Mr Howard condemned the bombs as "a wicked and cowardly attack". He said: "The indiscriminate, brutal and despicable way in which lives have been taken away ... by an act of barbarity will, I know, shock all Australians."
Yesterday, the government dispatched a C-130 troop carrier to Bali with Royal Australian Air Force medics and medical supplies on board. The medics were preparing to evacuate seriously injured Australians to Darwin, where hospitals have been put on alert.
Australia's national airline, Qantas, scheduled several extra flights to bring home holidaymakers, and Perth was preparing to receive casualties.
The government revealed on Saturday that it had received warnings from the US that it could be targeted by terrorists, although the threats apparently were directed at power stations, not tourists.
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