The United States yesterday warned that attacks similar to last month's Bali bombing which killed nearly 200 people could take place in other Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia.

In a public announcement, the State Department said it was worried that the Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a regional terror network suspected of a role in the Oct 12 Bali bombing, could target Westerners outside Indonesia.

"The State Department is concerned that attacks similar to the October 2002 terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia, may occur in other Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia," the US government said in a public announcement.

"JI and other extremist groups present in the region have demonstrated transnational capabilities to carry out attacks against locations where Westerners congregate," the warning said.

"Terrorist groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets."