ASEAN agrees on first anti-terror pact

The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) senior officials have agreed on the first draft document, the "ASIAN Convention on Counterterrorism," which aimed at fleshing out the measures that would be undertaken to stop the spread of terrorism in the region, an Indonesian diplomat said Friday.

It's very significant in our concerted effort to combat terrorism in the region," said Imron Cotan, secretary general of the Indonesian foreign ministry, who attended the ASEAN senior officials' meeting to craft the first ASEAN anti-terror pact to fight terrorism and transnational crimes, including a provision to rehabilitate convicted terror suspects.

ASIAN, established in 1967, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

According to the draft document, which will be submitted to the ASEAN leaders for signing, ASEAN member countries have agreed to track movements of suspicious money or people throughout the region, and to allow for the extradition of terror suspects.

Earlier, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said that during the ASIAN Summit, the Philippines would call for a more effective collaboration among the ASEAN members in the fight against terrorism.

The Philippine government is now fighting against the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group that operates in islands in Mindanao.

In a related development, Al-Qaida-linked militants will be a key security concern during the forthcoming ASEAN Summit, officials said more than 10,000 troops and police are securing the Cebu venues.

Source: Xinhua