AUSTRALIA: Australian politicians responded stoically yesterday to the terrorist bomb in Jakarta. It was not that they had thought it inevitable, just that, after 9/11, Bali, Madrid and Beslan, it was not surprising.
Foreign Minister Mr Alexander Downer was in no doubt that the bombing was aimed at Australia.
"It is clearly a terrorist attack, it was outside the Australian embassy, you would have to conclude that it was directed towards Australia," he said before flying to the Indonesian capital.
"We had some advice a few days ago of a possible terrorist attack in Jakarta focusing on western-style hotels . . . but we didn't have any information of a specific attack on the Australian embassy," he said.
Mr Downer added that while it was too early to say who was responsible for the attack, the al-Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiah network was a suspect.
Prime Minister Mr John Howard said the attack was barbaric. "I of course condemn this bomb attack unconditionally," he said.
Opposition Labour Party leader Mr Mark Latham said the bombing was "appalling" and that ". . . we need to deal with the consequences of it as best we can and most importantly bring those responsible for this evil and barbaric act to justice as quickly as possible".
Australia's main political parties have temporarily suspended campaigning for the forthcoming election. Both the Liberal/National Coalition government and Labour cancelled their planned campaign events for today. Mr Latham will also not campaign tomorrow to mark the third anniversary of the September 11th attacks in America.
Mr Latham says it is appropriate for Australians to pay their respects to those who died in the Jakarta attack.
"I think when you hear of any incident like this in another country, where Australian citizens, Australian interests are involved, of course, as an Australian yourself, you fear for the worst," he said.
"The one piece of relief was to hear that our staff, our citizens, were accounted for.
"There's still the tragedy of what's happened to these innocent Indonesians who've lost their lives and the grief and mourning that their families would be going through now in such horrific circumstances," Mr Latham said.
The prime minister also played down fears of a terrorist attack within Australia before the October 9th poll. It is widely thought, however, that the Jakarta bomb will benefit Mr Howard's chances of re-election.
When opening his election campaign 12 days ago he asked: "Who do you trust to lead the fight on Australia's behalf against international terrorism?"
Unlike the Spanish situation last March - when the Madrid bombings were followed a few days later by the incumbent conservative party losing power - Australia's electorate are now thought less likely to vote for a change in government.