[Nasional-e] BUSH: "heinous and cowardly act".

[Sato Sakaki]

President Bush is condemning the car bombing that
claimed more than 180 lives on the Indonesian island
of Bali and calls it an "heinous act" of terrorism.
President Bush says hundreds of innocent people were
killed and injured in a cowardly act designed to
create terror and chaos.

In a written statement, Mr. Bush offers condolences to
the families of the victims, and America's sympathies
to the people of Indonesia.

The US president also vows to continue the war on
terrorism. He says the world must confront what he
calls "this global menace." And he stresses the United
States is willing to help the Indonesian government
find those responsible and bring them to justice.

The massive car bomb explosion occurred late Saturday
in a popular tourist area, destroying a crowded night
club and damaging surrounding buildings. 

But there have been concerns about Islamic extremists
elsewhere in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim
population of any country in the world. And the
government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri has come
under pressure to crack down on groups with possible
terrorist links.

During an interview on American television, a
prominent U-S senator said he thinks the Bali car
bombing marks the beginning of a new round of
terrorist violence.

Alabama's Richard Shelby -- the top Republican on the
Senate Intelligence Committee -- appeared on A-B-C'S
"This Week" program, shortly after U-S law enforcement
and intelligence officials briefed his staff on the
Bali bombing. 

He said: "I believe, myself, after the briefing that
this is a definite terrorist link here. We don't know
all the facts. Is it directly al-Qaida, or is it an
affiliated group?. But, I believe that this is the
beginning of a lot more that we are going to see,
perhaps in the U-S, although we hope not."

Mr. Shelby would not elaborate. When asked if the
White House should put the nation on a higher state of
alert, he said he would leave that decision in the
hands of Attorney General John Ashcroft. (NEB/PW/TW) 


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