Volunteers for the new unit, to be known as the Reserve Response Force (RRF), are expected to begin training in a fortnight and the units are likely to be fully operational by October.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said that as part of Australia's national response to terrorist threats, reservists could play a greater and far more significant role than they did now.

"They could also play a role in regard to major events where there may be suggestions of some terrorist threat," he told reporters.

"These reservists, when specially trained for this capability, will be able to take on tasks and add to our national response capabilities."

Although reserve soldiers already received extensive training in the use of guns and weaponry, they would now be given further training to specially deal with terrorist attacks, he said.

While there were no threats to events such as the upcoming Rugby World Cup, if intelligence reports suggested there were, the new scheme would provide extra capabilities to deal with it.

The duties of the new unit will range from anti-terrorist operations to protective tasks required for high-profile public events or regional civil emergencies.

They will guard key infrastructure like power stations, refineries, telephone exchanges, roads, bridges and cultural landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

The plan was revealed as Australia stepped up warnings about the threat of terrorism, with deadly new bomb attacks claiming several lives in the Saudi capital of Riyadh and in Morocco's largest city, Casablanca.

Australia has been hard hit by terrorism, losing people in the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, in last October's Bali bomb blasts and in Riyadh, where one Australian national died.

Australian Defence Force chief General Peter Cosgrove has instructed the Reserve to create units that could be mobilised at short notice in a major shake-up of reserve forces to meet the growing threat of terrorism.

Like America's National Guard, the new RRF will be able to be called out at short notice to support the professional army, the police and emergency services after a terrorist attack or national emergency.

Reports here Sunday said that initially there would be six RRF squads each with 150 personnel, with two in Sydney and one each in the four other mainland capitals, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Their members will be entitled to a special 600-dollar (390 US) tax-free annual bonus on top of their normal allowances for 50 days a year as reservists.

WAR.WIRE