Hambali was plotting more attacks

The accused Bali bombing mastermind, Hambali, was plotting a series of bomb attacks to coincide with the October summit of Pacific leaders, including George Bush and John Howard, the Thai Government said yesterday.

The United States Deputy Secretary of State also warned that the threat of an attack at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in Bangkok was still very real despite Hambali's capture in Thailand last week.

However, Mr Howard is determined to attend unless there is "some very powerful evidence to the contrary". Mr Bush is also expected to attend.

Thai police and CIA agents who swooped on a flat where Hambali had been hiding for several weeks with his Malaysian wife, Noralwizah Lee, are reported to have found explosives and a computer containing information on Jemaah Islamiah.

Hambali is believed to have been the conduit between al-Qaeda and JI.