ATTACK ON AMERICA: SPECIAL REPORT
Reports of plots against Americans force travel alert
FEARS OF CIVILIAN KIDNAPPINGS
A `worldwide caution'stems from suspicions that extremists in 9 nations might try to abduct, kill Westerners. BY MARTIN MERZER
AND JONATHAN S. LANDAY
Mercury News Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- The State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert for Americans after discovering that extremists in nine countries might be preparing to kidnap or kill American and British civilians in response to expected U.S. retaliatory strikes against terrorists, the Mercury News Washington Bureau learned Saturday.
The boldest plot, U.S. intelligence officials said, was uncovered by Indonesian authorities, who reported that a radical Islamist group planned to invade two upscale neighborhoods in the capital of Jakarta and seize large numbers of Americans and Britons as hostages if the United States or Great Britain attacked Afghanistan.
The officials, who requested anonymity, told the Mercury News Washington Bureau that the ``worldwide caution'' issued Friday by the State Department was based on reports from the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency and foreign intelligence services.
According to the reports, allies of suspected terrorist leader Osama bin Laden have been watching hotels favored by Westerners. In some cases, officials said, they asked desk clerks and other hotel employees if any Americans were registered there.
Plans for possible attacks against Americans and other Westerners also were reported in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur; the southern Philippine island of Mindanao; the Bangladesh capital of Dacca; Tajikistan; Uzbekistan; Pakistan; Georgia; and Bahrain, the U.S. military headquarters in the Persian Gulf, the officials said.
Friday, the State Department issued a ``worldwide caution'' to Americans overseas. Without citing details, it cited threatening rhetoric and the potential of further strikes in the wake of the attacks.
``In this environment of increased tension and concern, the department urges Americans to review their circumstances carefully and to take any measures they deem necessary to ensure their personal safety,'' the State Department announced.
It was the first time the department had issued such an advisory since the assault that killed at least 6,000 people in the United States. Thursday, the State Department issued a special travel warning for Americans in Indonesia.
``While the government of Indonesia has condemned these terrorist attacks, some radical Indonesian groups have attempted to attack U.S. citizens and have threatened to attack U.S. facilities and expel American citizens from Indonesia in the event of a U.S. military action,'' the advisory said.
``Americans who despite this warning remain in or visit Indonesia should exercise maximum caution and take prudent measures to maintain their security.''
The State Department also said the U.S. Embassy in Niger had received reports of ``anti-American threats and sentiments'' in the capital, Niamey, and the city of Maradi. It said the threats were linked to possible U.S. military action, and it encouraged all Americans in Niger to maintain heightened security.
In addition, the department repeated previous warnings about potential threats against U.S. military facilities and other establishments frequented by American military personnel in South Korea and Japan.
Non-essential U.S. government employees have been removed from four U.S. diplomatic missions in Pakistan, two in Indonesia and one each in Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Yemen, the State Department said.
The advisories are posted on the department's Web site (www.state.gov).
``Travel warnings'' are issued when the State Department decides to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. ``Public announcements'' -- such as the worldwide caution -- are issued anytime there is ``information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or transnational conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers.''
Saturday, President Bush, who is spending the weekend at Camp David with top advisers, vowed once again to track down terrorists around the world.
``Our war on terror will be much broader than the battlefields and beachheads of the past,'' Bush said in his weekly radio address. ``This war will be fought wherever terrorists hide, or run, or plan. Some victories will be won outside of public view, in tragedies avoided and threats eliminated. Other victories will be clear to all.''
With more than 300 aircraft, 30 warships and nearly 30,000 personnel now focused on Afghanistan, the United States is ready to begin military action against bin Laden and his Afghan hosts as soon as Bush decides to act, according to senior U.S. officials.
The United States has identified bin Laden as the mastermind of the Sept. 11 hijackings and attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Saturday, officials said the entire cost of recovery from the World Trade Center attacks could reach $39 billion, including debris removal, overtime pay and subway and skyscraper rebuilding.
Responding to a U.N. Security Council vote Friday, the Iranian foreign minister said Saturday that Muslim nations might not endorse an anti-terrorism campaign unless it is led by the United Nations and not the United States.
Foreign ministers from the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference will meet early next month in Qatar to a discuss a ``unified position'' and ways to cooperate with the rest of the world after the Sept. 11 attacks, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said.
Iran and several Arab nations have strongly opposed any anti-terror coalition led by the United States. Other Arab nations, however, particularly in the Persian Gulf, have promised to help the United States against terror.
Pakistan shut down a militant organization Saturday. The Harakat ul-Mujahedeen, or Movement of the Holy Warriors, has been fighting Indian soldiers in the disputed Kashmir region.
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Mercury News wire services contributed to this report.
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