HACKING CLAIMS IN AUSTRALIA

CHINESE HACKERS MIGHT HAVE STOLEN TOP-SECRET BLUEPRINTS OF AUSTRALIA'S INTELLIGENCE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS, BUT FOREIGN MINISTER BOB CARR INSISTED TIES WITH BEIJING WOULD NOT BE HURT.

THE AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION SAID THE DOCUMENTS TAKEN INCLUDED CABLE LAYOUTS FOR THE HUGE BUILDING'S SECURITY AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, AND ITS SERVER LOCATIONS.

MR. CARR SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS "VERY ALIVE" TO THE THREAT, ADDING THAT "NOTHING THAT IS BEING SPECULATED ABOUT TAKES US BY SURPRISE."

BUT HE REFUSED TO CONFIRM OR DENY ANY CYBER ATTACK, OR WHETHER CHINA WS BEHIND ONE, SAYING HE WOULDN'T COMMENT "ON WHETHER THE CHINES HAVE DONE WHAT IS BEING ALLEGED OR NOT."

FOR ITS PART, CHINA NOTED THAT IT WAS "VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND THE ORIGIN OF HACKER ATTACKS."