JAKARTA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN) on Saturday warned of terrorist strikes on the occasion of Bush visit on Nov. 20 in Indonesia, and called for high alert, BIN head Syamsir Siregar said here.

Indonesian protestors wear masks of U.S. President George W. Bush during a demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Nov. 18, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    The threat could come from the group led by the coordinator of the Southeast Asia al-Qaida linked terrorist network, the Jemaah Islamiyah Noerdin Moh. Top, or other groups, said Siregar.

    The threat "still exists, as long as the members of the Noerdin's group have not been all captured," he said after a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry of Politics, Law and Security here.

    A large number of terrorist suspects under the coordination of Noerdin are still at large in Indonesia, police have said.

    Moreover, the terrorist leader, who has played an important role in a series of major explosions in Indonesia and has many times escaped from police pursuit, keeps conducting recruitment for further plots during his escape in this most populous Muslim country.

    Indonesia has been hit by a series of suicide bombings, most of which had targeted westerners, such as the Bali Bombing in 2002, Marriot hotel explosion in 2003 and the Australian Embassy bombings in Jakarta 2004, that had claimed over 250 lives.

    Siregar did not elaborate on the seriousness of the threat, saying that the agency has been investigating it.

    He said that the movement of the terrorists has not reached Jakarta or Bogor city yet, the venue of the Bush visit.

    "We must heighten our alert on the possibility of the threats, whether by Noerdin group or others," said Siregar.

    On the same occasion, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Widodo Adi Sucipto asked security authorities to take stern action against protesters who turn their protest into violence or anarchy.

    The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta has recently refreshed warning on its citizens in Indonesia from the protests, which it predicts may turn into violence.

    The Indonesian government has decided not to ban anti-Bush demonstration.

    On Wednesday, The Indonesian military also warned of terrorist strikes on the occasion of Bush visit, as its intelligence has found indication of the plots.

    Indonesia provides a maximal security for the visit of Bush, involving military and police. At least 18,000 police personnel have been on guard to secure the visit, according to the police and military officers.

    Resistance over the visit of President Bush has mounted in the country, particularly from the Islamic community, which accounts for about 87 percent of the country's 240 million population.

    The two biggest moderate Muslim organizations, the Nahdlatul Ulama and the Muhammaddiyah, have also expressed their disagreement with the visit, following frequent small protests by radical groups recently.

    Experts have warned that terrorists in the country are always prepared for attacks and wait for a favorable moment.

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