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SYDNEY, Nov 11 (AFP) - The Australian government is investigating a warning that Southeast Asia's most wanted terrorist, Hambali, visited the country to set up a network, officials said Tuesday.

Two academics who specialise in terrorism said that Hambali, who is also known as Riduan Isamuddin, had been to Australia on at least one occasion.

It was also claimed two men with the pseudonyms of Abu Ibrahim and Abu Jihad, had been trained by al-Qaeda to return and target local sites.

Hambali is believed to be a key figure in the outlawed terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiah, which is suspected of being behind the Bali bombings in which more than 190 people died, half of them Australian.

He is also believed to have been linked to bombings in the Philippines and Indonesia two years ago, which killed 40 people.

US-based terrorist expert Zachary Abuza, of Simmons College in Boston, said he had been told by Malaysian officials that Hambali had visited Australia, but it was not known precisely why he came and where he went.

"I'm not sure of what he was doing in Australia, I don't think anyone does, but clearly he was there to help establish a network," Abuza told ABC televison late on Monday.

"Of the Jemaah Islamiah cells in Southeast Asia it was the Malaysian cell, which Hambali was the head of that was in charge of setting up a cell, a network in Australia.

"We do not know how successful al-Qaeda or Jemaah Islamiah was in setting up a cell in Australia."

The author of the book "Inside al-Qaeda," Rohan Gunaratna, said Australian authorities had to do whatever necessary to disrupt any efforts by Hambali to set up a domestic network for Jemaah Islamiah.

He said it was very difficult to make an informed guess as to what Hambali's intentions were when he visited Australia.

"Hambali is a terrorist, a very important terrorist, and the very fact that he has been to Australia should be taken seriously, and Australian authorities should do whatever they can to disrupt the network," he added.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Daryl Williams said an investigation has been ordered into the possible presence of terrorist organisations and possible terrorist activity in Australia.

"The community can be assured that we will leave no stone unturned in order to protect Australians and Australian interests from terrorism," she said. 

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