KL replies to logging criticisms

Tue, 22 Jul 1997 | Source: AP

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia has denied accusations in a leaked Australian diplomatic document that the Southeast Asian nation's loggers are propping up rulers in the South Pacific.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be host to Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer later this week at the annual talks between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers and their dialog partners.

The Australian government began damage control at the weekend after details were reported from the classified 93-page document, which was left unattended at a Cairns hotel on the eve of last week's South Pacific Forum economic meeting.

Australia-Malaysia relations were rocky for many years, but improved in the past few years.

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