Lost Malaysian soldiers to be freed

Lost Malaysian soldiers to be freed

MALAYSIA: Five Malaysian soldiers who were detained after
crossing the border into neighboring Thailand during a joint
border patrol are to be released soon, a report said on Sunday.

The four sergeants and a corporal had strayed some 300 to 500
meters into Thai territory while on a routine mission to pick up
supplies last Thursday and are expected to be released later on
Sunday, the New Straits Times said.

"The rest of their platoon were a safe distance behind
Malaysia's border, but the five, despite having maps, a global
positioning system and a compass, probably erred in their
navigation due to the dense jungle terrain," Malaysian army chief
Gen. Mohamad Azumi Mohamed was quoted as saying.

The five, reportedly clad in T-shirts and not wearing their
military identification tags, were picked up by the Thai military
after local villagers sighted them.

They are being held in the Ingkhayuttaborehan camp of the
Fourth Army Command in Nongchik district, the report said.

Malaysia and Thailand are currently conducting a joint border
patrol following a wave of violence in southern Thailand that has
left some 60 people dead. --AFP