A territorial dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia moved into cyberspace today as Indonesian hackers launched attacks on Malaysian websites.

Government sites were the main targets of the campaign which came on top of three days of street protests against Malaysia's granting of an oil concession off Borneo island in an area claimed by both countries.

In one attack on a website belonging to the office of the Sultan of Perak, Malaysia's second-largest state, visitors were greeted by the word "Indonesia" on a red-and-white background - the colours of the national flag.

Scrolling text also carried the sentences: "Indonesia is united" and "do not disturb my land".

Long list of targeted websites

The Malaysian public works department's website was also defaced, but was restored later today.

Among the websites hacked over the past few days were Royal Malaysian Custom, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Universiti Sains Malaysia , Multimedia University, Perak Veterinary Department, Public Works Department, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), National Productivity Council, United Nations Development Programmes in Malaysia, Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Services Society, and Islamic Information & Services Foundation.

It is believed that some of the hackers have issued a long list of targeted websites, many of which are websites linked to the Malaysian government.

Malaysia and Indonesia have overlapping border claims in the Sea of Sulawesi. Since the oil concession was granted last month, warships and fighter planes have been mobilised with both sides accusing the other of incursions.

The foreign ministers of the two countries are scheduled to meet over the dispute here later this afternoon.