Henry L. Marconi: Australia struggles with fire

Australian fire brigades continue fighting bush fires across the state of New South Wales amidst an acute heat wave with temperatures reaching 40 degrees centigrade. The effort concentrates on areas North and West of Sydney. Large fires burning in the Blue Mountains region forced the closure of the transcontinental highway between Sydney and West of the continent.

Australia is on high alert today after a government anti-terrorist warning issued this morning. While the officials said a terrorist attack may be directed against US or British interests in Australia, they also admitted a lack of precise information on the subject. Law enforcement agencies are nervous after an incident yesterday, when 4 young adults successfully broke into the security compound of the Sydney Airport - presumably, to look at planes.

Australian intelligence agents arrived on an American aircraft carrier stationed in the Indian Ocean to interview David Hicks, an Australian national allegedly fighting with the Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Prior to joining the Taliban, Mr. Hicks converted to Islam and became known as Mohammed Dawood.

Henry L. Marconi PRAVDA.Ru Sydney