Australia stands ready to fight in a worldwide war on terrorism, including any military action against Iraq, "in the name of the scores of Australians who were killed in Bali," Prime Minister John Howard pledged yesterday. Mr. Howard said fighting the war on terrorism at home was the "first priority" as there is a risk of a Bali-style terrorist attack on Australian soil, but it was not the only priority. He added: "I can't understand how anybody could argue that you can respond adequately, in the name of the scores of Australians who were killed in Bali, without being part of the worldwide war against terror."

Mr. Howard's determination to track down those responsible for the Bali tragedy was highlighted during a private meeting in Kuta on Friday with relatives of the victims of the attack. Phil Burchett, the father of one of the missing, Jared Gane, revealed that Mr. Howard had hugged him and said: "We'll get the bastards who did this."

Mr. Howard said that Australia could not win the war on terrorism on its own and needed to be in alliance with countries such as the United States, Britain and Indonesia.