Mahathir says U.S. visa move regrettable

Mahathir says U.S. visa move regrettable

MALAYSIA: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday regretted reports that mostly-Muslim Malaysia was among Washington's target for tougher visa controls.

"This is rather regrettable because we know that even now there are terrorists who are non-Muslims," state news agency Bernama quoted Mahathir as saying in Putrajaya, the federal administrative center south of Kuala Lumpur.

The United States said on Friday it would target certain groups from some countries for longer checks before issuing visas in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks by hijackers, many of whom were in the country on temporary visas.

The Star newspaper in Kuala Lumpur said on Sunday besides Malaysia, those affected were Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan. --Reuters