Howard in Bali as anger grows

By CNN's Grant Holloway in Sydney

Prime Minister Howard has defended the actions of consular staff in Bali

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CANBERRA, Australia (CNN) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard has arrived in Bali to attend a memorial service for the victims of last weekend's terror attack and to check the process of identifying the dead.

Massive security is surrounding the leader's visit, amid warnings by the Australian government not to visit Bali, citing what it calls "disturbing" new intelligence that terrorists may still be targeting Australians.

Amid the heightened alert, the Australian leader will not travel on to Jakarta or meet with Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Howard made his decision to go to Bali Thursday morning amid increasing anger from Australians over the sensitive issue of repatriating the remains of loved ones.

Some Australians in Bali have criticized the administration of the identification process, accusing Indonesian and Australian authorities of incompetence and calling on the prime minister to intervene.

The majority of those approximately 200 people killed in the blasts were Australian tourists, but more than 100 bodies have yet to be identified and confirmed dead.

Speaking at a media conference just before he departed, Howard said the trip would give him a chance to "assess the situation on the ground".

However, he defended the efforts of Australian consular staff saying they were doing the best possible job in extremely stressful circumstances.

"I think they're doing a fantastic job in an incredibly challenging and difficult situation but it's important that I have the opportunity of having a look at things and it is also important that I be there at this service," Howard said. (Lengthy wait)

"By my presence I hope in a small way, express the feelings of the rest of the Australian community towards those people who have suffered and lost so much."

Howard will be back in Australia for the official "day of mourning" being held on Sunday.

He earlier asked Australians to observe a minute's silence at 12 noon Australian Eastern Standard Time (0200 GMT) and to wear a sprig of the native wattle flower as a personal gesture of remembrance.

"Church leaders of all denominations and faiths are encouraged to include a reference to the Bali atrocity in their services," Howard said.

"Let us all in our different ways find time on Sunday in different communities in different parts of our nation to mourn the abrupt and brutal deaths of so many and reflect on our own lives," the prime minister said in a statement Thursday.

The prime minister and his wife will attend a morning service at St Paul's Anglican Church in Canberra.

A formal memorial service, involving all state premiers and governors general will also be held, possibly later this month.

In New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark said Thursday that flags on all government buildings and naval vessels would fly at half mast from Friday to Sunday as a mark of respect and remembrance of the Bali victims.

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