WESTERN tourists were feared dead today after a series of bombings rocked the Indonesian resort island Bali, almost three years to the day after terrorists killed 200 people in a similar attack.

WESTERN tourists were feared dead today after a series of bombings rocked the Indonesian resort island Bali, almost three years to the day after terrorists killed 200 people in a similar attack.

At least three blasts rocked the popular tourist resorts of Kuta and Jimbaran beach to the south of Bali.

There were unconfirmed reports that at least 30 people were injured or had died when the bombs went off in a restaurant and near a department store.

Reports said the bombs detonated almost simultaneously in the early evening, local time, in what experts said were orchestrated terrorist attacks.

Major General Police Ansyaad Mbai, a top Indonesian anti-terrorism official, said the blasts "were clearly the work of terrorists".

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said it was not immediately aware of any British victims.

He added: "We have got Embassy staff on the ground investigating."

Indonesian police said some of the Bali explosions were in cafes.

It was in the town of Kuta on October 12, 2002 that terrorists associated with al Qaida set off two bombs close to each other that killed 202 people - including 26 Britons - and injured another 209.

Kuta is a busy tourist area featuring hundreds of hotels, restaurants and bars.

See Monday's Evening Star for the full story.