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