Mahathir, Estrada no bilateral meeting

Mahathir, Estrada no bilateral meeting

MANILA (AFP): There will be no bilateral meeting between Philippine President Joseph Estrada and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad during an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit in Kuala Lumpur this month, Manila's top diplomat said on Thursday.

"We have never asked for a bilateral meeting," Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon told reporters.

He said the only time Estrada would meet with Mahathir will be a 45-minute call by the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Estrada and Mahathir have been at odds after the Philippine leader publicly commented on the treatment of jailed former Malaysian deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim whom he has described as a "very good friend." His comments chilled ties with Kuala Lumpur and broke a long-standing policy in ASEAN against interfering in members' domestic affairs.