Burning bag thrown at Australian PM's house

SYDNEY: A man allegedly threw a burning bag at Australian Prime Minister John Howard's official residence in Sydney on Friday before being taken into custody, police said.   

The man, beleived to be in his 30s, approached the prime minister's harbourside mansion Kirribilli House just before midday and threw a burning cotton shoulder bag over the gates, New South Wales police said.   

They said the man was apprehended and was being questioned by police.   

Media reports said the bag landed in the grounds of the historic residence but was immediately extinguished and no damage occurred.   

Howard's office said he was in the national capital Canberra when the security scare occurred. No motive was given.