TURKEY has warned that al-Qaeda terrorists are plotting to assassinate Australian government officials, in a security alert issued on the eve of Anzac Day ceremonies in Gallipoli. Treasurer Peter Costello is due to arrive today in the town of Canakkale in northwest Turkey to represent Australia at the dawn and Lone Pine services on Friday. The website of the Turkish newspaper Zaman (www.zaman.com) reports the Turkish Government's Security General Directorate issued two terror alerts to its provincial security units, warning that 35 specially trained terrorists had entered Turkey from northern Iraq.
Not saying this article doesn't tell the truth, but I'm leery of that last sentence. This may just be another attempt by Turkey to find a reason to "deploy peacekeepers" to northern Iraq.
It reports al-Qaeda terrorists have planned suicide bombings or timed explosions by the end of the month. Targets of the terrorist activities will be business centres, airports, humanitarian aid establishments and logistic depots in Turkey, the US, England, Israel, Spain and Australia, the newspaper reports. One of the alerts also warned assassinations would be plotted against the officials of these countries.
| That would be the Dire Revenge™ of Tawhid (Zarqawi's organization) for effectively wiping out Ansar al-Islam, I'd guess... |
Australia's ambassador to Turkey, Jonathan Philp, said yesterday he was aware of the reports. "We're in close consultation with Turkish authorities, who have been extremely co-operative," Mr Philp said. "We don't comment on the detail specifics of security. The latest travel advice reflects all the intelligence available to us and our assessment of it." Australian Army chief Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy and MPs Cameron Thompson (Liberal member for Blair) and Jill Hall (Labor member for Shortland) will join Mr Costello at the Anzac ceremonies, which attracted 15,000 Australian and New Zealand pilgrims last year. Travel agencies are expecting half the crowd this year because thousands of travellers have cancelled their bookings due to fears of terrorism, SARS and the conflict in neighbouring Iraq.
| But 7500 could still provide a good pile of victims... |
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is warning Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Turkey, especially in areas frequented by foreigners such as bars, hotels, shopping areas and public transport. Australian Federal Police officers will be flown in to help Turkish paramilitary police secure the remote Gallipoli site, which is a national park. The US Government advised Americans to leave Turkey in a travel alert issued over the Easter break. |