Citing credible threats of imminent terrorist attacks, the governments of Australia and Canada closed their embassies in Manila Nov. 28. The threats were specifically against the embassies and Philippine authorities have increased security around the buildings. After a meeting with Australian and Canadian diplomats, Philippine Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said he was told the threat had come from Jemaah Islamiah, the Muslim fundamentalist group linked to al Qaeda and believed to be responsible for the Oct. 12 attack on a nightclub in Bali.
