JAKARTA, May 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indonesian police chief disclosed Thursday that terrorists have been preparing to carry out attacks in the country, as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyuno is paying a state visit to the United States mainly for resumption and development of military ties.

    According to Police Chief General Da'i Bachtiar, the police intelligence has found indications that the group of Azhari, who is the most wanted Malaysian bomb expert, has been planning to conduct terror attacks, but it is still uncertain whether the attacks will be carried out soon and which targets have been chosen.

    Meanwhile, Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector General Firman Gani was quoted by the state-owned Antara News Agency as saying here Thursday that the terrorists' plan has potentially threatened the security of the city.

    Messages have been sent to the foreign embassies in Jakarta, including those of the United States, Britain, Australia and Japan, and police have beefed up security for the embassies and other foreign facilities, according to Gani.

    The United States closed all its diplomatic mission offices in Indonesia due to security threat Thursday morning.

    In a statement published on the embassy's website, US officialssaid that the US Embassy in Jakarta was closed along with its consulates in Surabaya, Medan and the island of Bali. Other American government offices in Indonesia were also shuttered.

    The statement also reaffirmed earlier warnings that the threat of terrorism in Indonesia "remains high."

    "Attacks could occur at any time and could be directed against any location, including those frequented by foreigners and identifiably American and other Western facilities or businesses in Indonesia," the statement said.

    Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla was quoted by the Kompas Cyber Media as saying here Thursday that he can understand the move, while referring to the US horrifying experience and death threats often received from terrorists.

    Indonesia goes on high alert against terror attacks, as Susilo is making his first visit to the United States since his election as president in October 2004. The trip is expected to further boost relations between the two countries in the economic, political, security and military fields.

    Susilo, a US-trained former general, met President George W. Bush on Wednesday, saying that he would like stronger cooperation with the United States on education, economy, and counter-terrorism. The two leaders also discussed normalizing military relations.

    Indonesia is an ally in the US war against terrorism, but the government faces a population that opposes the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

    In the past three years, Indonesia has undergone three major terror explosions which killed hundreds of people, mainly Westerners.

    A number of terrorist suspects, who were allegedly involved in these bombings, are still at large and believed to own huge amounts of explosive materials. Enditem