ASEAN to meet after U.S. attacks

ASEAN to meet after U.S. attacks

THAILAND: Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai on Monday
urged the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to meet
to discuss cooperation against terrorism after the U.S.-led
attacks on Afghanistan.

Surakiart told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on
development in the Mekong river area that foreign ministers of
all 10 ASEAN nations should meet soon to exchange intelligence on
the issue.

"Because of the developments of events these days, I think it
is important for ASEAN foreign ministers to sit down together and
exchange views and discuss ways and means that we can exchange
intelligence for cooperation against terrorism," Surakiart said
in the northern town of Chiang Rai.

Surakiart said that although ASEAN had made clear it would
support the fight against terrorism, that stance was taken before
the U.S. and British air strikes on Afghanistan on Sunday.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said ASEAN heads
of government would likely discuss the repercussions of the air
attacks on New York and Washington at a two-day summit in Brunei
due early in November. --Reuters