22 nations to attend anti-terrorism workshop

22 nations to attend anti-terrorism workshop

Agence France-Presse, Bangkok

Law enforcement officials from 22 nations will attend an anti- terrorism workshop here this week aimed at improving security strategies and regional cooperation, Thailand's foreign ministry said.

Thailand and Australia are to co-host the three-day workshop beginning on Wednesday, held under the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, a security grouping.

"They will explore various means of anti-terrorism including immigration cooperation, high-technology travel document fraud, and security measures for leaders and international meetings," the ministry said in a statement received at the weekend.

Some 80 law enforcement officials from the member states will also address security plans for air travel linked to the World Cup football tournament in South Korea and Japan which kicks off in under six weeks.

Washington has warned that Southeast Asia must be on guard for terrorist groups that could use the region as a jumping-off point.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly expressed concern last week that figures linked with terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, the network of alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, could see the region as a safe haven.

Dozens of alleged Islamic militants have been arrested in Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia in the wake of last year's attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon which killed over 3,000 people.

ARF consists of ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

It also includes Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia, the United States and the European Union.