U.S. forces end exercise in KL

U.S. forces end exercise in KL

MALAYSIA: The United States and mostly Muslim Malaysia, allies in the international war on terror, ended an eight-day military exercise involving nearly 3,000 of their troops on Sunday.

Some 1,400 U.S. servicemen and 1,500 Malaysian troops took part in the eighth annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The exercise focused on humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and included air drops, jungle survival and amphibious landings.

"We hope to see this exercise continue every year in the future. With recent world events after September 11, many exercises in the region have been canceled. But this exercise is so important to us that our commander will ensure we continue," said U.S. military spokesman Capt. Christopher Perring.

Malaysia and the United States signed in May a joint declaration to fight international terrorism. --Reuters