Laos asks Thailand to expel rebels

Laos asks Thailand to expel rebels

BANGKOK (AP): Laos urged Thailand to speed up the extradition
of 28 rebels who attacked a Lao border checkpoint, saying Monday
that the slow process was hurting bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is also deputy prime
minister of communist-ruled Laos, also urged Thailand not to
allow any group to use Thai soil as a base to create problems in
the neighbor country.

The rebels, who included Thais and Laotians, launched the pre-
dawn attack on July 3 from Thailand and retreated there when it
failed. Six were killed by Lao government forces.

The 28, who claim to have been fighting for democracy in Laos,
are being detained in Thailand and are expected to face charges
of illegal entry and illegally carrying weapons.

Surin Pitsuwan, Thailand's foreign minister, said there were
plans to send the rebels back, but only after they had been dealt
with under Thai law and after Laos had sent evidence to support
their extradition appeal.