Jakarta - The governor of the Indonesian capital has waived local laws to allow foreign embassies to build tall concrete walls following a deadly bomb attack on the Australian mission last week, reports said on Thursday.
Jakarta Governor Suti Yoso, speaking after meeting with the ambassadors of the United States, Britain and Australia at his official residence, granted the temporary measure at a time when the city is on alert for further attack.
"Because this is for protection purposes, we should provide our good services. But this will only be a temporary measure," Yoso was quoted by Kompas online.
He said Australia's embassy escaped serious harm due to strong concrete construction when the bomb exploded last Thursday, killing nine people and causing massive damage to other buildings in the area.
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The American embassy has in the past made repeated demands to be allowed to build a three-metre-high concrete wall around its embassy on the rim of the city's main central square.
City authorities have so far rejected the demand saying that it would run against a local regulations that only allow fences and wall up to 1,5m in height.
Staff at the governor's spokesperson's office declined immediate comment saying that they have still to verify the report.
Police have warned extremists associated with the Jemaah Islamiyah regional terror group who are blamed for last weeks' bombing could be planning a new attack in Jakarta. Western embassies and hotels are among potential targets. - Sapa-AFP
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