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

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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

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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

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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