KL allows U.S. to see terror suspect
KL allows U.S. to see terror suspect
MALAYSIA: Malaysian police will allow the United States to question a detained Malaysian suspected terrorist over his alleged links to the Sept. 11 attacks but ruled out extradition, a report said on Wednesday.
Police chief Norian Mai was quoted by the Berita Harian newspaper as saying the United States had made an application to interrogate ex-army captain Yazid Sufaat.
No evidence against Yazid has been presented in court as he continues to be held under Malaysia's Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
The U.S. reportedly sought permission to interview Yazid in an apparent bid to strengthen its case against the so-called "20th hijacker", Zacarias Moussaoui, who is on trial in the U.S. --AFP
;AP;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-S'pore-China-terrorism Report: Singapore and China to share information on terrorism JP/11/ASEAN
S'pore, China to share data on terror
SINGAPORE: Singapore and China will boost cooperation in the war on terrorism by sharing information and stepping up contacts between relevant government agencies, a news report said on Wednesday.
The agreement was concluded in Beijing after a meeting on Tuesday between Singapore's Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng and China's Public Security Minister Jia Chunwang, The Straits Times newspaper said. Wong is on a four-day visit to China.
Wong said he briefed Jia on the city-state's crackdown against Jemaah Islamiyah, a group which authorities claim has links to al-Qaeda.
Wong said Jia briefed him on the crackdown on alleged terrorists groups in western China. --AP
;AFP;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-Philippines-kidnap Philippine military seeks "end game" against kidnappers JP/11/ASEAN
RP seeks "end game" against kidnappers
PHILIPPINES: The Philippine military on Wednesday launched "operation end game" on southern Jolo island in a bid to finally crush kidnap gangs holding hostage three Indonesians who were kidnapped in June and four Filipina Christians.
"We expect to finish this problem soon. Troops are girding for a showdown," said Brig. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, head of military forces on Jolo.
As part of the operation, three separate military task forces were created to go after the gunmen in three different parts of Jolo and rescue the hostages, believed hidden in treacherous mountain areas on the island.
A military statement in Manila said that "the campaign will be implemented over a period of three to six months," and would hopefully "break the backbone," of the kidnapping gangs in Jolo and surrounding islands. --AFP
;AP;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-Malaysia-Taxi Malaysian taxi drivers protest minister's "shoot them" comment JP/11/ASEAN
Cab drivers protest minister's comment
MALAYSIA: About two dozen taxi drivers demonstrated on Wednesday outside the office of a government minister who said rude and dishonest taxi drivers should be shot.
The demonstrators rallied outside the office of Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir shouting "We are taxi drivers, not communists," and waving placards reading "We want justice."
Abdul Kadir said in off-the-cuff comments last week that taxi drivers who were rude or had cheated tourists in Malaysia "are traitors to our country and should be lined up against the wall and shot."
The union's president, Yusoff Lahir, said its 28,000 members may hold a bigger protest if Abdul Kadir does not withdraw his statement. --AP