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Howard warns of new terror threatFrom Grant Holloway SPECIAL REPORT
QUICKVOTEYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSSYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard warned Wednesday that he had received intelligence information about a specific terror threat to his country, though he refused to divulge details of the threat, citing security concerns. At a nationally televised news conference in the capital of Canberra, Howard said releasing details of the threat would compromise security concerns. "You will understand that there are sensitive operational matters and I cannot and will not go into further detail," he said. "I don't want to overstate the situation, but I don't want to understate it," he added. "I can't go into any more detail because if I do I might weaken the capacity of authorities to respond." The Associated Press reported that Howard later Wednesday introduced an amendment to counterterrorism laws in the House of Representatives, in a bid to boost intelligence agencies' powers. Australia's upper house of parliament, the Senate, which the government also controls, will be recalled Thursday to vote on the amendment. The government is seeking urgent passage of the legislation, which has raised concerns over its "preventative detention" provisions and restrictions on freedom of expression. After initially supporting the legislation, state premiers and some opposition members have expressed anxiety over the proposed laws, citing civil liberties concerns. Howard's proposed amendment raised similar concern on Wednesday. (Full story) Howard said he had received advice that the amendment, which is part of a larger package of anti-terror legislation, would improve the "operational capabilities" of security forces to combat the latest threat. The terror warning also comes a day after Australia's leading spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), publicly warned of what it said was the extent of the "home-grown" Islamic threat. In it's annual report, ASIO says there are an estimated 700-800 Muslims who have expressed support for politically motivated violence. Australia "has been of interest to terrorists every year for the last six years," the report says. Australia has not had a terrorist attack on its soil but it is believed to be a target because of Canberra's steadfast support for the Bush administration in the United States and its sending of troops to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, was the target of a suicide bombing in September last year. Additionally, 88 Australians were killed in the Bali nightclub bombings in 2002. Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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