A car bomb exploded in front of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, killing at least three people, local radio reported.  

The embassy is located in one of Jakarta's busiest business center of Kuningan.

"There are so many victims. The death toll may exceed that of the Marriott Hotel bombing. I saw many people with serious burns," a witness told a local radio station.

Police officers and fire brigade were seen packing the bombing side, the radio said.

Journalists were prevented from getting too close to the site for fear of another explosion," it said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2004)