SE Asian police seek cooperation

SE Asian police seek cooperation

CAMBODIA: Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng called on Tuesday for an action plan to fight "transnational terrorism," which has posed new threats to Southeast Asia and the world alike.

Transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, illegal arms sales, piracy and human smuggling are spreading "to gravely threaten security, peace and world development," Sar Kheng said at the opening of the 22nd conference of police chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He said transnational terrorism that emerged after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States has left ASEAN members with no option but to join efforts to eradicate it.

More than 100 delegates, including senior police officers from ASEAN, are attending the three-day conference, also known as ASEANAPOL. The last meeting was held in Laos last year. Cambodia is hosting the conference for the first time since it joined the regional club three years ago. --AP