Australia and New Zealand have issued blanket travel advisories for Southeast Asia out of concern that their nationals would be targetted in what appeared to be a new wave of suicide bombings against westerners by al Qaeda-linked operatives.

Following the bomb attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which killed more than 30 persons, both Australia and New Zealand issued travel alerts last Thursday for Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, East Timor, Singapore and Brunei.

The reviewed advisory by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) urged all Australians to exercise extreme caution in public and commercial areas, particularly those frequented by foreigners.

It also advised Australians to defer non-essential travel to Indonesia, including Bali.

"We continue to receive reports suggesting that terrorist elements in the region are planning attacks," said the DFAT in its notice.

Vague reports

On Friday, New Zealand foreign affairs minister Phil Goff also issued a similar warning for all New Zealanders travelling and living in Southeast Asia to be vigilant.

"In the wake of the recent terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia, there is concern that similar attacks may be made in Southeast Asia by Jemaah Islamiah, which is known to have links to al Qaeda and other extremist organisations operating in Southeast Asia," he said in a statement.

Goff said the threat against Western interests in the region is regarded as real although reports received by governments terrorism activity "do not, can cannot, pinpoint specific targets or times".

"While security operations against Jemaah Islamiah in the region have been successful, the organisation is considered to retain the ability to launch further attacks throughout Southeast Asia," he added.

The Jemaah Islamiah is said to be a regional network of militants, all sharing the aim of setting up an Islamic state across Southeast Asia.

One of the organisations key leaders, fugitive Indonesian militant leader Riduan Isamuddin alias Hambali is said to have masterminded several bombings in Indonesia and the Philippines and planned for other attacks in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Casablanca attack

Meanwhile, more governments are expected to issue similar alerts as another large-scale suicide bombing took place in the Moroccan city of Casablanca.

The Friday night attack which saw five explosions withing 30 minutes of each other, was said to have been carried out by suicide bombers. At least 41 people were reported to have been killed with another 100 injured.

Following the Morocco attack, Germany issued a statement urging its nationals to postpone travel to Kenya and to exercise extreme caution in Malaysia.

The statemen t also drew attention to Sabah, in reference to an incident in Sipadan three years ago when a group of tourists were kidnapped for ransom by southern Filipino militants, the Abu Sayyaf group.

In response to the travel alerts, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed the Foreign Ministry to hold briefings for foreign envoys in Malaysia.

Abdullah was reported by the Bernama news agency as saying that the government would ask for the envoys to convey to their respective countries that Malaysia was a safe destination and that the government constantly took steps to ensure security in the country.