SYDNEY, Sept 14: Australia said on Tuesday that it would not participate in the six-nation Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Pakistan in December unless organizers respond to concerns about possible terrorist attacks.

Hockey Australia chief executive Linden Adamson said he was growing increasingly alarmed about security at the tournament in light of a recent upsurge in terrorist threats against Australia.

He notably cited a suicide bombing against Australia's embassy in Jakarta last week and unconfirmed reports Tuesday that militants in Iraq had kidnapped two Australian workers and were threatening to execute them.

"These acts clearly point to the fact that Australia is the target of extremists," Adamson said. "We must be doubly certain that we are taking athletes and support staff into areas that are safe. If it's not safe, we won't go. It's as simple as that," he said.

Adamson sent a request to tournament organisers in Lahore at the start of the month seeking further details about security arrangements but said Tuesday that he had still not received a response.

"If that information is not forthcoming, there is no way Australia will take part," he said. Pakistan's Hockey Federation said the Australians would be safe. "A security plan normally reserved for the VIPs will soon be sent to all the countries through the International Hockey Federation and we assure the safety of not only Australia but all the competing teams," a spokesman said.

"Pakistan is safe for sporting activities and we have been holding all international events without any problems so we are positive that Australia will be competing in Pakistan."

Australia's Olympic champion Kookaburras have never missed a Champions Trophy tournament in the 27-year history of the event. Tournament entries close on September 24.

Adamson said New Zealand officials shared Australia's concerns, despite not being a specific target of recent terrorist attacks. New Zealand's cricketers cut short a tour of Pakistan in May 2002 after a bomb exploded outside their hotel in Karachi, killing 14 people. The Kookaburras won their first Olympic championship in Athens, upsetting defending gold medallists the Netherlands 2-1. -AFP