KL backs Manila peace talks
KL backs Manila peace talks
THAILAND: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has assured the Philippines that his country will continue to broker peace talks between Manila and Muslim guerrillas even after his retirement at the end of the month, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Tuesday.
In talks on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok, Mahathir assured the Philippine president that his successor would continue the peace process between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is waging a bloody separatist rebellion in the southern Philippines, Arroyo said.
"We talked about the continuity of the peace process," Arroyo told reporters. "He said his successor shares his views and it will probably be the same people on the ground who will be assisting us."
Malaysian-brokered talks have led to a cease-fire, but intermittent clashes have scuttled past negotiations. Formal talks were expected to resume in Malaysia in the next few weeks, Philippine officials said. -- AP
;REUTERS;HHR; ANPAu..r.. Vietnam-Legislature Vietnam lawmakers told to cut waste JP/11/ASEAN
Vietnam lawmakers told to cut waste
VIETNAM: Vietnam's leaders urged lawmakers on Tuesday to cut waste, inefficiency and dependency on state handouts as one of Asia's fastest-growing economies faces ambitious growth targets in the next two years.
The 498-member National Assembly, Vietnam's equivalent of a parliament, kicked off month-long deliberations in a somber mood.
It is expected to discuss revisions to nine laws including one on land disputes, and discussed five draft laws.
Protesters massed near the hall, waving red flags and shouting, but drew little attention from delegates. The assembly opening often attracts people seeking redress of land grievances.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told the delegates Vietnam aims to achieve economic growth of 7.5 to 8.0 percent in 2004, surpassing 2003 estimates of 7.2 percent to 7.3 percent.
Against the backdrop of a giant golden bust of revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, Dung said, "Anticorruption measures are not efficient," adding that Vietnam still saw too much dishonesty, fraud and waste. -- Reuters
;AFP; ANPAi..r.. Philippines-attacks RP backtracks over bioterrorism claims JP/11/ASEAN
RP backtracks over bioterrorism claims
PHILIPPINES: The Philippine authorities on Tuesday backtracked over claims that a bioterrorism manual and traces of biological weapons had been found at a Jamaah Islamiyah terrorist hide-out.
Vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia said examination of powders found at an apartment in Cotobato on the southern island of Mindanao showed they did not contain the tetanus bacteria as originally reported.
"Our finding is, there were no chemical or biological agents found," Garcia told reporters.
Police spokesman Sr. Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil also said Garcia's claims on Monday that a bioterrorism manual had been found were not substantiated. He said only "notes on bioterrorism and biotoxic materials" were discovered.
Garcia's comments on Monday had raised fears that JI , which has been accused of the bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali last year, may have been planning to launch a biological attack in the region.
President Gloria Arroyo issued a statement on Tuesday calling on the police and military to be accurate in their reporting "so that the public will be informed of the facts and not be unduly alarmed by sensationalized reports."
She also called on the public to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities who are tracking down suspects from JI, which wants to create an Islamic state across Southeast Asia. -- AFP