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

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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

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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