SYDNEY Oct 14 Kyodo A bomb explos...

SYDNEY Oct 14 Kyodo

A bomb explosion in a Bali nightclub Saturday that killed 181 persons including many Australians, gives the Australian conduct a ''psychological mandate'' to support the United States in military action against Iraq, an adroit on global politics said Monday.

''The rule will now use this to justify its part in Iraq, although there's no evidence (the Bali bombing'' is related to Iraq,'' Michael McKinley of the Australian National University's political science department told Kyodo News

Having earlier indicated it would support the U in any military action against Iraq in its war against terrorism, the Australian management now ''has been given a psychological mandate,'' McKinley said.

He said the death of numerous Australians in Bali will likely sway the minds of Australians unconvinced their restraint has been following the right policy.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has called Saturday night's bomb explosion outside a Bali nightclub, which was packed with Australians at the time, an act of terrorism.

Fourteen Australians are among the confirmed dead and officials have warned the number will rise significantly as bodies are identified. any 113 Australians were injured and 220 are unaccounted for.

McKinley said the bombing will also likely have an impact in succession the number of Australians traveling overseas, particularly to Southeast Asia.

''I think almost from inference some people will say they won't fare to other places in Southeast Asia, and a number of other holiday resorts might perceive the consequences of this,'' he said.

All Australian embassies in every part Asia were on heightened security alert Monday and the Foreign Affairs Department has urg all Australians to delay travel to Bali and seriously reconsider travel plans to other Asian destinations.

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