Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith is in Jakarta, Indonesia following last Friday's bomb blasts, which has claimed the lives of at least three Australians, including Austrade official Craig Senger. The latest reports put the overall death toll at nine, with more than 50 recorded as injured, including several foreigners. Smith will meet with Indonesian officials to discuss Australia's role in supporting their fight against terrorism, and also visit Australian embassy staff. The bombings will have serious effects on trade and tourism in the region, said Indonesian politics expert Dr Ian Chalmers from Curtin University. "It took some time to recover after the first Bali bombing, and then the second," he said. "Once again, I think this will be of great more difficulty to Indonesia's economic outlook." Indonesian police have confirmed that the group Jemaah Islamiah were behind the recent bombings.
PUBLISHED | JULY 20, 2009
COMMENTS | NONE
Jakarta bombings will have trade, security effects
