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Australia warns US of need for surgical strikes

Australia has warned the United States of the need for surgical strikes against Afghanistan, to keep the support of Muslim communities in Southeast Asia.

The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, says Australia has been in close contact with the countries of Southeast Asian in preparing the struggle against terrorism.

Mr Downer says Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines all have significant Muslim communities and fear that indiscriminate retaliation could be seen as an attack on Islam.

It's very important this isn't done in an irresponsible and vengeful way which leads to the deaths of many civillians. That will be tragic if that is to happen. And the political consequences of that would be enormous. It is very important that any retaliatory measures that are taken are surgical, are focussed, they're not just generalised.

5/10/01 1:04:54 | ABC Radio Australia News

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